{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-1-1061.17","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 1-1061.17","heading":"Prohibition of nonsubstantive requirements.","body":"(a)\nIf a voter’s mistake or omission in the completion of a document under this subchapter does not prevent determining whether a covered voter is eligible to vote, the mistake or omission shall not invalidate the document. Failure to satisfy a nonsubstantive requirement, such as using paper or envelopes of a specified size or weight, shall not invalidate a document submitted under this subchapter. In a write-in ballot authorized by this subchapter or in a vote for a write-in candidate on a regular ballot, if the intention of the voter is discernable under the District’s uniform definition of what constitutes a vote, an abbreviation, misspelling, or other minor variation in the form of the name of a candidate or a political party shall be accepted as a valid vote.\n\n(b)\nNotarization is not required for the execution of a document under this subchapter. An authentication, other than the declaration specified in § 1-1061.13 or the declaration on the federal postcard application and federal write-in absentee ballot, is not required for the execution of a document under this subchapter. The declaration and any information in the declaration may be compared with information on file to ascertain the validity of the document.","path":["Title 1. Government Organization.","Chapter 10. Elections.","Subchapter VII. Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/1-1061.17","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"90e6948b43d3ba7e9525f4728ab55639ae2215b2f887a5f4ac8c10590f694266","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-1-1061.16","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-1-1061.18"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}