Hamilton Votes at Wrong Site, Then Corrects Course
Independent D.C. mayoral candidate Rhonda Hamilton cast her ballot at Emery Heights Community Center in Ward 4 after arriving first at the wrong Ward 6 location.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Rhonda Hamilton, one of three candidates on Washington, D.C.'s mayoral ballot, voted at the Emery Heights Community Center in Ward 4 on Tuesday afternoon. Hamilton and her volunteers had first traveled to J.O. Wilson Elementary School in Ward 6, which was not an Election Day vote center.
Why it matters
The mix-up highlights that D.C. voters may cast ballots at any polling location, a detail that matters for residents unsure where to vote. Hamilton's campaign, which is completely volunteer-based, faces a field that includes Democrat Janeese Lewis George and Statehood Green candidate Robert Gross.
Just over 32% of voters cast ballots in the June primary election, the most recent turnout figure cited in coverage. Hamilton's voting location was roughly a 10-minute walk from her home, and the mayoral ballot lists three candidates.
The players
Rhonda Hamilton
An independent candidate for mayor of Washington, D.C., who runs a fully volunteer-based campaign.
Janeese Lewis George
The Democratic candidate for mayor of Washington, D.C., facing Hamilton on the ballot.
The details
Hamilton and volunteers traveled by campaign bus and arrived at J.O. Wilson Elementary School in Ward 6 on the morning of the election before pivoting to Ward 4. The campaign is hosting a watch party at the Thurgood Marshall Center in the Shaw neighborhood.
Timeline
Morning of election day: Hamilton's group arrives at J.O. Wilson Elementary School in Ward 6.
Early Tuesday afternoon: Hamilton casts her ballot at Emery Heights Community Center in Ward 4.
Big Picture
The episode shows how D.C.'s rule permitting voting at any polling location shapes Election Day logistics for candidates and voters alike. It also puts a spotlight on a low June primary turnout of just over 32%.
D.C. voters are not restricted to a single assigned polling place, so residents can vote at any open location on Election Day. Voters unsure of their site should confirm it before heading out, since campaign-directed visits to the wrong location can cost time.
The takeaway
Election Day logistics can trip up even experienced campaigns, so checking your polling location in advance saves time at the polls.
Further reading
Explore more on Elections coverage for the D.C. mayoral race.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hunewsservice.
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