IIB 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3902 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
MARCH 1, 2012 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs 
AN ACT 
To amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to revise 
the timing of special elections for local office in the 
District of Columbia. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:38 Mar 02, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3902.RFS
H3902
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3902 RFS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘District of Columbia 
Special Election Reform Act’’. 
SEC. 2. TIMING OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL OF-
FICE IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
(a) COUNCIL.— 
(1) CHAIR.—The first sentence of section 
401(b)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule 
Act (sec. 1–204.01(b)(3), D.C. Official Code) is 
amended to read as follows: ‘‘To fill a vacancy in the 
Office of Chairman, the Board of Elections shall 
hold a special election in the District on the Tuesday 
occurring at least 70 days and not more than 174 
days after the date on which such vacancy occurs 
which the Board of Elections determines, based on 
a totality of the circumstances, taking into account, 
inter alia, cultural and religious holidays and the ad-
ministrability of the election, will provide the oppor-
tunity for the greatest level of voter participation.’’. 
(2) MEMBERS
ELECTED
FROM
WARDS.—The 
first sentence of section 401(d)(1) of such Act (sec. 
1–204.01(d)(1), D.C. Official Code) is amended to 
read as follows: ‘‘In the event of a vacancy in the 
Council of a member elected from a ward, the Board 
of Elections shall hold a special election in the Dis-
trict on the Tuesday occurring at least 70 days and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:38 Mar 02, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3902.RFS
H3902
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3902 RFS
not more than 174 days after the date on which 
such vacancy occurs which the Board of Elections 
determines, based on a totality of the circumstances, 
taking into account, inter alia, cultural and religious 
holidays and the administrability of the election, will 
provide the opportunity for the greatest level of 
voter participation.’’. 
(3) MEMBERS ELECTED AT-LARGE.—The sec-
ond sentence of section 401(d)(2) of such Act (sec. 
1–204.01(d)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘and such 
special election’’ and all that follows and inserting 
the following: ‘‘and such special election shall be 
held on the Tuesday occurring at least 70 days and 
not more than 174 days after the date on which 
such vacancy occurs which the Board of Elections 
determines, based on a totality of the circumstances, 
taking into account, inter alia, cultural and religious 
holidays and the administrability of the election, will 
provide the opportunity for the greatest level of 
voter participation.’’. 
(b) MAYOR.—The first sentence of section 421(c)(2) 
of such Act (sec. 1–204.21.(c)(2), D.C. Official Code) is 
amended to read as follows: ‘‘To fill a vacancy in the Of-
fice of Mayor, the Board of Elections shall hold a special 
election in the District on the Tuesday occurring at least 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:38 Mar 02, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3902.RFS
H3902
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 3902 RFS
70 days and not more than 174 days after the date on 
which such vacancy occurs which the Board of Elections 
determines, based on a totality of the circumstances, tak-
ing into account, inter alia, cultural and religious holidays 
and the administrability of the election, will provide the 
opportunity for the greatest level of voter participation.’’. 
(c) ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The first sentence of sec-
tion 435(b)(1) of such Act (sec. 1–204.35(b)(1), D.C. Of-
ficial Code) is amended by striking ‘‘the Board’’ and all 
that follows and inserting the following: ‘‘the Board of 
Elections shall hold a special election in the District on 
the Tuesday occurring at least 70 days and not more than 
174 days after the date on which such vacancy occurs 
which the Board of Elections determines, based on a total-
ity of the circumstances, taking into account, inter alia, 
cultural and religious holidays and the administrability of 
the election, will provide the opportunity for the greatest 
level of voter participation.’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:38 Mar 02, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3902.RFS
H3902
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS