Welcome
This site is a guide for DC Government teams who plan to use Drafts DC to engage the public on draft documents such a policy and legislation. Members of the public who want to learn more about the site and how to get involved can visit the Drafts DC FAQ
Drafts DC is a website that enables government and residents to collaborate on text documents. Residents can express support or opposition to a document and leave comments about it. These comments are publicly visible, which enables a real-time conversation between residents and government, and can be attached to individual paragraphs of the document, which enables the conversation to focus on specific details.
Posting a document to Drafts DC tells the public that you want feedback and will be paying attention to and engaging with those who provides it. Drafts DC is a place for documents that are being actively developed, not an archive. It does not replace the DC Register, although many documents that are posted to the Register could also benefit from being made available on Drafts DC.
It’s important to understand that simply posting a document to the site does not guarantee that the public will comment on it. Agencies must plan public engagement — online and off — to invite residents and organizations to participate.
This guide describes the process of posting a document to Drafts DC, offers tips on planning an effective outreach campaign, and answers some frequently asked questions about Drafts DC. If you have a question that’s not answered here, please reach out to our team.