ELECTORAL VOTES 3

2008 ELECTION Strong Obama

ABOUT
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Washington, D.C., is the only non-state to be enfranchised for presidential elections, gaining electoral votes through the ratification of the 23rd Amendment in 1961. That amendment gave D.C. a share of electors proportional to its population (like the states), but limited it to no more electors than the least populous state. This meant three electoral votes in 1964, and that number has not changed. Residents of the nation’s capital have always voted Democratic, and always by a wide margin. In 2004, John Kerry received about 9.5 votes for every one for George W. Bush.