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D.C. Council approves funding to make district primaries semi-open in 2028
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Politics/The Apex Times/Jun 23, 6:05 PM EDT

D.C. Council approves funding to make district primaries semi-open in 2028

Council votes 9-2 to allocate $1.1 million for changes to allow independents to vote in district primaries beginning with the 2028 elections.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

The D.C. Council voted Tuesday to fund changes that will allow independents to participate in district primaries for the 2028 elections, a policy shift aimed at expanding the pool of voters beyond registered Democrats and Republicans in those contests. The measure, adopted on a 9-2 vote, sets up what the Council described as “semi-open” district primaries starting in 2028.

Under the Council’s approach, independents would be permitted to vote in district-level primary elections rather than being excluded from those contests. The Hill reported the Council’s action came more than 18 months after voters in the District passed a measure supporting the change, setting up a timeline for election administrators and the Council to prepare for implementation.

The Council’s package also includes a specific funding allocation. The Hill reported the Council voted to allocate $1.1 million from 2027 through 2030 to support the transition to semi-open district primaries, covering the costs associated with administering the elections under the new rules.

The Council’s vote followed legislative and administrative steps needed to translate a voter-approved policy into election procedures and budgeting. The funding span starting in 2027 indicates the Council’s expectation that preparations begin before the first semi-open district primaries take place in 2028.

The policy is limited to district primaries, as described in the Council action reported by The Hill. The vote does not, based on the reported description, extend the same semi-open participation rule to all contests, and it would be applied at the district level beginning with the 2028 cycle.

While opponents and supporters could argue about the merits of expanding primary participation, the Council’s recorded action, as reported, focuses on practical election administration steps: authorizing the funding and setting a start date for independents to vote in district primaries in 2028. The Hill did not provide additional detail in the portion summarized here about any legal challenges or administrative guidance issued alongside the vote.

Election administrators typically must adjust ballots, poll worker instructions, and voter eligibility systems when primary access rules change. With the Council’s funding authorization covering multiple election cycles ahead of 2028, the measure suggests the District intends to build the administrative capacity needed to implement the semi-open format without waiting until the election year itself.

Why It Matters

  • The change alters who can participate in primary elections for D.C. district seats, expanding access for independents in the 2028 cycle.
  • The $1.1 million multi-year allocation indicates the District plans to make administrative changes ahead of 2028, rather than implementing at the last minute.
  • Semi-open primaries may affect election administration at polling locations by requiring systems and procedures to handle independent voters in district primary contests.
  • Because the policy was tied to a voter-approved measure, the Council’s funding vote represents a concrete step in translating ballot-level public support into election rules.

Sources

Key Facts

  • The D.C. Council voted 9-2 to allow independents to vote in district primaries beginning in 2028.
  • The Council’s action follows a voter-approved measure passed more than 18 months earlier, according to The Hill.
  • The Council allocated $1.1 million to support semi-open district primaries from 2027 through 2030.
  • The funding and participation change is described as applying to district primaries, with an implementation start date of the 2028 elections.
  • The Hill reported the Council vote occurred on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
D.C. Council approves funding to make district primaries semi-open in 2028 | The Apex Times