Harris rally expected to draw more than 50,000 people to downtown DC – NBC4 Washington

Vice President Kamala Harris will make her closing statement to voters Tuesday evening just a short walk from the White House.

The D.C. rally on the Ellipse could draw more than 52,000 people, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said Tuesday morning, as told to her by organizers.

Overflowing crowds are directed to the northeastern site of the Washington Monument.

At the Ellipse, former President Donald Trump held his “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, 2021, shortly before spectators stormed the Capitol.

The number of expected attendees increased from 8,000 when initially approved, and the Harris-Walz campaign promoted the event on social media platforms such as Instagram starting Sunday morning. According to the National Park Service, the original permit has been changed.

Harris is working to turn the election into a referendum on the Trump era, which she will portray as a decade of division and chaos, a senior Harris campaign official told NBC News.

Trump will give a speech Tuesday evening in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which his campaign called his final message to voters.

Visitors can enter the gates from 3 p.m

Preparations continued at the Ellipse over the weekend, with teams preparing fences, protective flooring and more.

Those who wanted to participate were encouraged to RSVP on the Harris-Waltz campaign website. Gates are expected to open at 3 p.m. and Harris is expected to begin her speech at 7:15 p.m. The event is expected to end around 9:00 p.m

Harris will seek to address voters' economic concerns and highlight her specific proposals aimed at lowering costs, strengthening the middle class and increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthy, a campaign official said.

Road closures are expected in downtown DC

Be sure to plan ahead if you're in downtown DC on Tuesday afternoons and evenings. Parallel to the rally, the annual High Heel Race takes place on 17th Street NW and a Capitals-Rangers game takes place in Chinatown.

Here is a list of street closures and parking restrictions that the DC Police Department issued in advance of the rally.

The following streets will be closed to traffic on Tuesday from around 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.:

• 17th Street from H Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 15th Street from F Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• Jefferson Drive from 14th to 15th Street SW
• Madison Drive from 14th to 15th Streets NW
• Constitution Avenue from 14th to 18th Streets NW
• C Street from 17th to 18th Streets NW
• D Street from 17th to 18th Streets NW
• E Street from 17th to 18th Streets NW
• F Street from 17th to 18th Streets NW
• G Street from 17th to 18th Streets NW
• New York Avenue from 17th to 18th Streets NW
• E Street from 14th to 15th Streets NW
• Pennsylvania Avenue from 17th to 18th Streets NW
• Pennsylvania Avenue from 14th to 15th Streets NW (local hotel traffic only)
• Road closures and times are subject to change, police said.

Road closures and times are subject to change, police said.

Motorists may experience delays in the area and may wish to seek alternative routes. Police and traffic authorities are also warning drivers to be careful as pedestrian traffic increases.

According to police, drivers also have to expect parking restrictions. Vehicles parked in violation of no parking signs will be subject to a ticket and the vehicle will be towed.

An emergency parking ban applies to the following streets on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.:

• 17th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW
• Constitution Avenue from 14th Street to 18th Street NW
• 15th Street from F Street to Constitution Avenue NW

Less than a week until Election Day

Polls show Harris is statistically in a dead heat with Trump with just over a week left until Election Day. The Vice President; Her vice president, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and high-profile deputies from Michelle Obama to Liz Cheney to Beyoncé are calling on voters to cast their vote for the Democrat.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Beginning November 4, all D.C. police districts will be fully staffed and all officers will work 12-hour shifts, with a focus on ballot drop boxes and polling locations.

Check out our election guides for Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC: