31 October 2026
Washington, D.C. voters will head to the polls this Tuesday, November 3, to cast their ballots on Initiative Measure No. 86, officially titled the "Prohibiting Force-Feeding of Birds Act."
If approved, the measure will make it illegal across the District to force-feed birds for the purpose of enlarging their livers beyond normal size. It will also prohibit restaurants, retailers, and commercial distributors from selling, importing, or serving foie gras produced through force-feeding. Enforcement authority would fall under the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment through routine business inspections, backed by civil fines for non-compliance. The upcoming vote places the nation’s capital at the center of an ongoing national debate pitting animal welfare advocacy against the culinary and hospitality industry.
