As election day approaches, the San Francisco Elections Office is urging voters to plan ahead and familiarize themselves with the election process to ensure their ballots are counted in the crucial November elections. On October 16, the office responded to inquiries from our reporters, highlighting important details for voters.
This year’s ballot will not only include the presidential and Congressional elections but also feature races for mayor, district attorney, controller, and members of the school board, alongside six city council seats.
Voters will also encounter up to 25 local and state policy propositions, many of which address significant issues such as urban infrastructure, housing, and community reform. Notably, one proposition that has garnered attention relates to the controversial closure of the Great Highway.
The election will utilize the ranked choice voting system, a method practiced in San Francisco since 2004. This system allows voters to rank up to ten candidates in order of preference. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the votes in the initial round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their ballots are transferred to the voters’ second-choice candidates. This process continues until one candidate obtains more than 50% of the votes.
While this voting method may seem a bit complicated for some voters, the Elections Office emphasizes that it is designed to avoid costly runoff elections and ensure the final results better reflect the preferences of the majority. Analysts suggest that ranked choice voting benefits moderate candidates who can garner support as second or third choices, while extreme candidates may face greater challenges.
According to an announcement from the San Francisco Elections Office, registered voters can expect to receive their mail-in ballots by early October. If you have not received your ballot or if it is damaged, you can contact the Elections Office at 415-554-4375 for a replacement. Voters can submit their ballots by mail or drop them off at over 30 ballot drop boxes throughout the city. For those who prefer to vote in person, early voting options have been available at City Hall since October 7.
The Elections Office reminds voters that they can check the status of their ballots in real-time through the San Francisco voter portal or California’s ballot tracking website to ensure their votes are received and counted properly.
San Francisco also allows non-U.S. citizen parents, legal guardians, or caregivers of children under 19 to participate in school board elections. This special registration process for non-citizen voters can be further explored on the city government’s website.
