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Online EditionSan Francisco Voter Information Pamphlet & Sample BallotConsolidated General Election
November 3, 2020

Elections and accessibility

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  • General Information
    • Quick Guide to the November 3, 2020, Election
      • Questions?
      • Letter from the Director
      • Purpose of the Voter Information Pamphlet and Voter Information Guide
      • The Ballot Simplification Committee
      • Voter Bill of Rights
      • Elections Commission
      • San Francisco Voters Have Three Ways to Vote
      • Voting by Mail
      • Voting at the Voting Center
      • Voting at a Polling Place
      • Where Will My Assigned Polling Place Be Located on November 3?
      • Find your Polling Place Location
      • Marking Your Ballot
      • Key Facts about the City’s Voting System
      • Keep Your Voter Registration Current!
      • Voter Registration Privacy Information
      • Safe at Home Program
      • San Francisco’s Supervisorial Districts
      • 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
      • ကျွန်ုပ်တို့ သင့်ကို ကူညီနိုင်ပါသည်။
      • お手伝いいたします。
      • 도와 드리겠습니다!
      • เราช่วยคุณได้!
      • Chúng tôi có thể trợ giúp quý vị!
      • An Overview of San Francisco’s Debt
      • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
      • Stop receiving your printed Voter Information Pamphlet
      • 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
    • Candidate for United States Representative, District 14
    • Candidates for State Senator, District 11
    • Candidate for State Assembly, District 17
    • Candidates for State Assembly, District 19
    • Candidates for Board of Supervisors, District 1
    • Candidates for Board of Supervisors, District 3
    • Candidates for Board of Supervisors, District 5
    • Candidates for Board of Supervisors, District 7
    • Candidates for Board of Supervisors, District 9
    • Candidates for Board of Supervisors, District 11
    • Candidates for BART Director, District 7
    • Candidates for BART Director, District 9
    • 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: Health and Homelessness, Parks, and Streets Bond
      • Proposition B: Department of Sanitation and Streets, Sanitation and Streets Commission, and Public Works Commission
      • Proposition C: Removing Citizenship Requirements for Members of City Bodies
      • Proposition D: Sheriff Oversight
      • Proposition E: Police Staffing
      • Proposition F: Business Tax Overhaul
      • Proposition G: Youth Voting in Local Elections
      • Proposition H: Neighborhood Commercial Districts and City Permitting
      • Proposition I: Real Estate Transfer Tax
      • Proposition J: Parcel Tax for San Francisco Unified School District
      • Proposition K: Affordable Housing Authorization
      • Proposition L: Business Tax Based on Comparison of Top Executive's Pay to Employees' Pay
      • District Measure RR: Caltrain Sales Tax

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Voting by Mail

New state law requires California elections officials to mail ballots to all registered voters for the upcoming election. 

You will receive your vote-by-mail ballot packet in October. Your packet will contain an official ballot, instructional insert, postage-paid return envelope, and “I Voted!” sticker.  

New state law also allows all registered voters to use a remote accessible vote-by-mail (AVBM) system to access their ballots in the upcoming election. The AVBM system allows voters to mark screen readable ballots and is compatible with personal assistive technology such as screen readers, head-pointers, and sip-and-puff devices. Beginning October 5, voters can access the AVBM system at sfelections.org/access.

Three Easy Steps to Voting by Mail 

Whether you use a regular vote-by-mail ballot or the accessible vote-by-mail system, voting by mail involves three basic steps: 1) marking your ballot, 2) preparing your return envelope, and 3) returning your envelope on time.

Regular Vote-by-Mail (VBM) 

Accessible Vote-by-Mail (AVBM)

Step 1:

Mark your ballot

Fill in ovals next to your selections using a dark blue or black pen, following the instructions printed on each ballot card. Do not write anything else on your ballot.

Mark, review, and print your ballot, following the AVBM instructions on the screen of your device. Do not write anything else on your ballot.

Step 2:

Prepare your
envelope

Complete and sign your return envelope. Remove all receipts from ballot cards, and place folded cards separately into the return envelope, then seal it.

Complete and sign your return envelope. Place the AVBM ballot printout into the envelope, then seal it.

Step 3:

Return your ballot

Return your vote-by-mail ballot as early as possible!

• To return your ballot by mail, make sure your ballot envelope is postmarked on or before November 3. The envelope is postage-paid, so you do not need a stamp if mailing within the United States.

• To return your ballot in person, bring your envelope to any polling place on Election Day or drop-off station.

The ballot drop-off stations will be open as follows:  
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove Street
Monday–Friday, October 5–November 2, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. 
Saturday and Sunday, October 24–25 and October 31–November 1, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 
Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 7 a.m.–8 p.m. 
Bayview/Linda Brooks-Burton Library, 5075 3rd Street 
Chase Center, 1655 3rd Street
Excelsior Branch Library, 4400 Mission Street
Saturday and Sunday, October 31–November 1, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 
Monday, November 2, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. 
Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 7 a.m.–8 p.m. 

Vote by Mail Tips 

Review and follow the instructions printed on each ballot card carefully. After marking your ballot, double-check you have not made a mistake, such as only partially filling the selection ovals, making too many selections in a contest, or making unintentional marks. If you make a mistake, you may request a replacement ballot.

Sign your ballot return envelope. If you do not sign the envelope or if the signature on the envelope does not compare to one in your voter record, the Department will not be able to count your ballot unless you provide additional information. If your signature has changed, please re-register with your new signature.  

Return your ballot as early as possible. Return your ballot as early as possible, but if you plan to return it on Election Day, November 3, we recommend bringing it to any ballot drop-off station or one of the City’s 588 polling places, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

If you mail your ballot on Election Day using a blue USPS box, home letterbox, or business mail drop, be sure to check the mail pickup times. If the last pickup has already occurred, your ballot will be postmarked late and will not be counted.

You can search for locations of USPS boxes and pickup times at usps.com/locator.

If you want to know the status of your ballot, track it at sfelections.org/voterportal. San Francisco’s ballot tracking system will let you know where your ballot is, from ballot assembly up through delivery, verification, and counting. You may also sign up to receive notifications via email, text, or voice message at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov. 

If you need to request a replacement ballot, go to sfelections.org/voterportal or call (415) 554-4375. After October 28, when it is too late to receive a replacement ballot by mail, contact the Department as soon as possible to review your options.

  • Quick Guide to the November 3, 2020, Election
    • Questions?
    • Letter from the Director
    • Purpose of the Voter Information Pamphlet and Voter Information Guide
    • The Ballot Simplification Committee
    • Voter Bill of Rights
    • Elections Commission
    • San Francisco Voters Have Three Ways to Vote
    • Voting by Mail
    • Voting at the Voting Center
    • Voting at a Polling Place
    • Where Will My Assigned Polling Place Be Located on November 3?
    • Find your Polling Place Location
    • Marking Your Ballot
    • Key Facts about the City’s Voting System
    • Keep Your Voter Registration Current!
    • Voter Registration Privacy Information
    • Safe at Home Program
    • San Francisco’s Supervisorial Districts
    • 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
    • ကျွန်ုပ်တို့ သင့်ကို ကူညီနိုင်ပါသည်။
    • お手伝いいたします。
    • 도와 드리겠습니다!
    • เราช่วยคุณได้!
    • Chúng tôi có thể trợ giúp quý vị!
    • An Overview of San Francisco’s Debt
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
    • Stop receiving your printed Voter Information Pamphlet
    • Your Sample Ballot
    • Ballot worksheet
    • XML Streams
    • Site Guide
    • Change Font Size

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