From Pro-Animal DC (Wed. August 5th):
“On Wednesday, August 5th, the DC Board of Elections announced that Initiative 86 has officially qualified for the November 3rd, 2026 General Election Ballot.
One hundred ninety-eight circulators collected over 45,000 signatures in 14 weeks.
28,728 valid signatures were required for the initiative to qualify for the November 2026 ballot, including 5% of the voters in the District and at least five of eight wards.
Pro-Animal DC collected sufficient signatures in six of eight wards.
If passed by voters, the law will take effect July 1, 2027.
Today, the Board of Elections certifies that the petition submitted sufficient signatures to be on the November ballot.
BACKGROUND: DC is the third-highest foie gras consuming city in the U.S., behind New York City and Las Vegas, according to a recent report. A survey of 438 registered DC voters found broad support for the measure across all eight wards. The product is controversial because it relies on force-feeding ducks and geese until they develop liver disease. Initiative 86, if approved by voters, would prohibit the sale of foie gras produced through force-feeding in the District, joining Denver, CO which will have a similar initiative on the ballot this November, and Portland, Oregon which passed a similar bill in June.
About Pro-Animal DC: Pro-Animal D.C. is the campaign committee behind Initiative 86 and is a grassroots movement of voters, volunteers, and donors dedicated to passing laws that reflect D.C.’s values of compassion and humane treatment of animals.”