(a) When appointing a member of the Board, the Mayor and Council shall consider whether the individual possesses demonstrated integrity, independence, and public credibility and whether the individual has particular knowledge, training, or experience in elections law and procedure. A person shall not be a member of the Board unless the individual:
(1) Is a duly registered voter;
(2) Has resided in the District continuously since the beginning of the 3-year period ending on the day the individual is appointed; and
(3) Holds no other paid office or employment in the District government.
(b) No person, while a member of the Board, shall:
(1) Campaign for any other public office;
(2) Hold any office in any political party or political committee;
(3) Participate in or contribute to any political campaign of any candidate in any election held under this subchapter;
(3A) Be an officer or a director of an organization receiving District funds, or an employee of an organization receiving District funds, who has managerial or discretionary responsibilities with respect to those funds;
(4) Act in the person's capacity as a member, to directly or indirectly attempt to influence any decision of a District government agency, department, or instrumentality relating to any action which is beyond the jurisdiction of the Board; or
(5) Be convicted of having committed a felony in the District of Columbia; or if the crime is committed elsewhere, conviction of such offense as would be a felony in the District of Columbia.
(c) Each member of the Board, including the Chairperson, shall receive compensation as provided in § 1-611.08(c-1)(10).
(d)(1) The Mayor may remove any member of the Board who engages in any activity prohibited by subsection (a) or (b) of this section, and appoint a new member to serve until the expiration of the term of the member so removed. When the Mayor believes that any member has engaged in any such activity the Mayor shall notify such member, in writing, of the charge against the member and that such member has 7 days in which to request a hearing before the Council on such charge. If such member fails to request a hearing within 7 days after receiving such notice then the Mayor may remove such member and appoint a new member.
(2) The hearing requested by a member may be either open or closed, as requested by such member. In the event such hearing is closed, the vote of the Council as a result of such hearing shall be taken at an open meeting of the Council. The Council shall begin such hearings within 60 calendar days after receiving notice from the Mayor indicating that a member has requested such a hearing. If two-thirds of the Council vote to remove such member then such member shall be removed.
(e) Any vacancy occurring on the Board shall be filled within 45 days after the occurrence of such vacancy, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
(Aug. 12, 1955, 69 Stat. 699, ch. 862, § 4; Sept. 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 854, Pub. L. 91-405, title II, § 205(i); Dec. 23, 1971, 85 Stat. 794, Pub. L. 92-220, § 1(26); Aug. 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 471, Pub. L. 93-376, title VII, § 706(b); Sept. 2, 1976, D.C. Law 1-79, title I, § 102(3), (4), 23 DCR 2050; Apr. 23, 1977, D.C. Law 1-126, title I, § 103(a), title IV, § 402, 24 DCR 2372; Mar. 10, 1978, D.C. Law 2-50, § 2, 24 DCR 4806; Aug. 18, 1978, D.C. Law 2-101, § 2, 25 DCR 257; Mar. 3, 1979, D.C. Law 2-139, § 3205(v), 25 DCR 5740; Aug. 7, 1980, D.C. Law 3-81, § 2(gg), 27 DCR 2632; Mar. 16, 1982, D.C. Law 4-88, § 2(n), (q), (s), 29 DCR 458; Feb. 4, 2010, D.C. Law 18-103, § 2(b), 56 DCR 9169; Apr. 27, 2012, D.C. Law 19-124, § 501(g)(3), 59 DCR 1862; Sept. 20, 2012, D.C. Law 19-168, § 1133, 59 DCR 8025; Aug. 19, 2017, D.C. Law 22-13, § 2(a), 64 DCR 6245; Mar. 13, 2019, D.C. Law 22-250, § 5(b), 66 DCR 985; Mar. 16, 2021, D.C. Law 23-192, § 2(c), 68 DCR 001073.)
Prior Codifications1981 Ed., § 1-1304.
1973 Ed., § 1-1104.
Section ReferencesThis section is referenced in § 1-636.02.
Effect of AmendmentsD.C. Law 18-103 rewrote subsec. (a); and added subsec. (b)(3A).
D.C. Law 19-124, in the section heading, substituted “Board of Elections” for “Board of Elections and Ethics”.
The 2012 amendment by D.C. Law 19-168 rewrote (c).
ApplicabilitySection 7183 of D.C. Act 24-159 repealed section 10(a) of D.C. Law 22-250 removing the applicability provision impacting this section. Therefore, the amendment of this section by Law 22-250 has been implemented.
Applicability of D.C. Law 22-250: § 10 of D.C. Law 22-250 provided that the change made to this section by § 5(b) of D.C. Law 22-250 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.
Emergency LegislationFor temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Primary Date Alteration Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-106, July 25, 2017, 64 DCR 7388).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Primary Date Alteration Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-75, June 5, 2017, 64 DCR 6080).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 2(b), 4(a) of Omnibus Election Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-236, November 30, 2009, 56 DCR 9154).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 401(g)(3) of Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2012 (D.C. Act 19-298, January 29, 2012, 59 DCR 683).
Editor's NotesSection 4(a) of D.C. Law 18-103 provided: “(a) Section 2(b)(1) shall not apply to any individual who is a member of the Board of Elections and Ethics on the effective date of this act.”