Jump to navigation

  • Site guide
  • Font size
  • Text only
Mobile menu button
San Francisco Voter Guide logo
Online EditionSan Francisco Voter Information Pamphlet & Sample BallotMunicipal Election
November 5, 2019

Elections and accessibility

  • sfelections.org
  • Accessibility
  • English
  • 繁體中文
  • Filipino
  • Español
  • General Information
    • IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES
      • Letter from the Director
      • Purpose of the Voter Information Pamphlet and Voter Information Guide
      • Ballot Simplification Committee
      • San Francisco, Meet Your New Voting System!
      • Voter Bill of Rights
      • Confidentiality and Voter Records
      • Safe at Home Program
      • Find your Polling Place Location
      • Voting by Mail
      • Voting in Person
      • Marking Your Ballot - Ranked-Choice Voting
      • Accessible Voting and Services
      • Multilingual Voter Services
      • 我們可以協助您!
      • Asistencia en español para los electores
      • Tulong para sa botante sa wikang Filipino
      • Chúng tôi có thể trợ giúp quý vị!
      • 도와 드리겠습니다!
      • Non-Citizen Voting in the November 5, 2019, Board of Education Election
      • Are you ready for the March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election?
      • An Overview of San Francisco’s Debt
      • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
      • Stop receiving your printed Voter Information Pamphlet
      • Volunteer! Be a Poll Worker
      • Your Sample Ballot
      • Ballot worksheet
      • XML Streams
      • Site Guide
      • Change Font Size
  • Candidate Information
    • Candidate Information
      • City and County of San Francisco Offices To Be Voted on this Election
      • Your Candidates' Statements
      All Candidate Statements
      所有候選人聲明
      Todas las declaraciones de las candidatos
      Lahat ng mga Pahayag ng mga Kandidato
    • Candidates for Mayor
    • Candidates for Board of Supervisors, District 5
    • Candidates for City Attorney
    • Candidates for District Attorney
    • Candidates for Public Defender
    • Candidates for Sheriff
    • Candidates for Treasurer
    • Candidates for Board of Education
    • Candidates for Community College Board
  • Local Ballot Measures
    • Local Ballot Measure and Argument Information
      • Words You Need to Know
      Local Ballot Measures
      • Proposition A: Affordable Housing Bond
      • Proposition B: Department of Disability and Aging Services
      • Proposition C: Vapor Products
      • Proposition D: Traffic Congestion Mitigation Tax
      • Proposition E: Affordable Housing and Educator Housing
      • Proposition F: Campaign Contributions and Campaign Advertisements

You are here

  1. Home ›
  2. General Information ›

Voting by Mail

Any voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot, for this election only or for all elections. The Department of Elections begins mailing ballots approximately one month before each election.

Before You Vote

1.    Submit your request to vote by mail as early as possible; it must be received by the Department of Elections by October 29, seven days before Election Day.

2.    Check or update your ballot language preference at sfelections.org/language:

•    Ballots and other materials are available in English and Chinese, Spanish, or Filipino.

•    Facsimile ballots are available in Vietnamese and Korean; these are exact copies of the official ballot with translated content, for voters to use as a reference.

•    Indicating your preference in advance may help you get a ballot in your preferred language sooner. Otherwise, your ballot will include instructions to exchange it for a ballot with your preferred language.

3.    If you have a disability, consider whether to use a paper ballot or another accessible option (see here).

4.    Learn more about San Francisco’s new voting system at sfelections.org. Practice marking a demonstration ballot at sfelections.org/rcv.

How to Request to Vote by Mail

•    Fill out and return the application on the back cover of the printed version of this pamphlet.

•    Go to sfelections.org/vbm.

•    Call (415) 554-4375, or visit the Department of Elections in City Hall, Room 48.

•    Mail, fax, or email a scanned request to the Department of Elections with your name, birth date, home address, the address where you want your ballot to be mailed, and your signature.

To vote by mail for all elections, request to become a permanent vote-by-mail voter; your signature is required.

If You Make a Mistake on Your Ballot

To request a replacement ballot, go to sfelections.org/myballot or call (415) 554-4375.

How to Return Your Ballot

1.    Fold your ballot cards one by one and place them in the return envelope.

2.    Sign and seal the envelope.

3.    Return the ballot on time.

There are three ways to return your ballot:

•    Mail it to the Department of Elections; the return envelope must be:

o  Postmarked before or on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, AND

o  Received by the Department of Elections no later than Friday, November 8.

•    Drop it off at a Drop-off Station outside either Voting Center, open November 2–5 during voting hours (see below).

•    Drop it off at any California polling place on Election Day.

How to Track Your Ballot

Check the status of your ballot—from mailing through counting—at sfelections.org/myballot or call (866) 325-9163 toll free. If your ballot cannot be counted, this tool will tell you how to correct the issue before Election Day so that we can count your ballot.

Starting October 22, you can watch the opening and processing of vote-by-mail ballots at the Department of Elections at sfelections.org/observe.

 

Save the Dates

  • IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES
    • Letter from the Director
    • Purpose of the Voter Information Pamphlet and Voter Information Guide
    • Ballot Simplification Committee
    • San Francisco, Meet Your New Voting System!
    • Voter Bill of Rights
    • Confidentiality and Voter Records
    • Safe at Home Program
    • Find your Polling Place Location
    • Voting by Mail
    • Voting in Person
    • Marking Your Ballot - Ranked-Choice Voting
    • Accessible Voting and Services
    • Multilingual Voter Services
    • 我們可以協助您!
    • Asistencia en español para los electores
    • Tulong para sa botante sa wikang Filipino
    • Chúng tôi có thể trợ giúp quý vị!
    • 도와 드리겠습니다!
    • Non-Citizen Voting in the November 5, 2019, Board of Education Election
    • Are you ready for the March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election?
    • An Overview of San Francisco’s Debt
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
    • Stop receiving your printed Voter Information Pamphlet
    • Volunteer! Be a Poll Worker
    • Your Sample Ballot
    • Ballot worksheet
    • XML Streams
    • Site Guide
    • Change Font Size

Follow Us!



© SF Department of Elections all rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

  • General Information
  • Candidate Information
  • Local Ballot Measures