DC Council votes to fund semi-open primaries, opening door to independents

Published June 23, 2026 4:23pm ET | Updated June 23, 2026 4:23pm ET



Residents of the District of Columbia who identify as independent are allowed to vote in its 2028 partisan primaries after the D.C. Council voted to fund semi-open primary elections on Tuesday.

The legislative body passed an amendment to the fiscal 2027 budget that allocates $1.1 million over the next four years toward semi-open primaries. Independent Councilwoman Christina Henderson introduced the amendment.

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