Note: If you make a mistake while making your ballot, you can request a replacement by visiting sfelections.org/voterportal, calling the Department of Elections at (415) 554-4375, or asking a poll worker or a Voting Center representative.
Steps for All Types of Contests
1. Before you mark any contest, review the instructions printed on the ballot.
2. To ensure your selections will be readable and countable, use a pen with dark ink or a pencil.
3. Do not write personal information, such as your name or initials, anywhere on your ballot.
4. Fill in the oval to the right of your choice for the contest or measure, as shown in picture 1.
5. To vote for a qualified write-in candidate, write the candidate’s name in the space at the end of the candidate list and fill in the oval next to the space. (A list of qualified write-in candidates will be available at sfelections.org/writein and the City Hall Voting Center starting February 1, 2022 as well as all polling places on Election Day, February 15, 2022.)
6. If you do not want to vote on a certain contest or measure, leave it blank. Your votes for the other contests and measures will still count.
Steps for the Ranked-Choice Voting Contest
In this election, voters will use ranked-choice voting (RCV) to elect the Assessor-Recorder.
San Francisco’s Charter requires that voters be allowed to rank no fewer than three choices in any RCV contest, even if fewer than three candidates are running for an office. Only one candidate was running to serve as Assessor-Recorder when ballots for this election went to print; therefore, the name of only one candidate will appear on the left column of the RCV grid, with three rankings appearing in the top row.
To mark the RCV contest, fill in the ovals from left to right, as shown in picture 2.
• In the first column for your first choice. (This is the last step if you have only one choice.)
• In the second column for your second choice, if you have one (otherwise, leave this blank).
• In the third column for your third choice, if you have one (otherwise, leave this blank).
Important points to remember!
• Do not fill in more than one oval in the same row. In other words, do not rank the same candidate multiple times, as shown in picture 3.
• Do not fill in more than one oval in the same column. In other words, do not give multiple candidates the same rank, as shown in picture 4.
How Does Ranked-Choice Voting Work?
Everyone’s first choice is counted.
If a candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes—more than half—that candidate wins.
If no candidate receives a majority, the candidate in last place is eliminated.
Voters who selected the candidate who was eliminated have their votes counted for their next choice.
This cycle repeats until there is a majority winner.