Voting Options

As a San Francisco voter, you can choose to vote in the November 8 election by mail or in person at the City Hall Voting Center or at a polling place.

Vote by Mail

About a month before the next and all future elections, the Department of Elections will automatically mail a vote-by-mail ballot (VBM) packet to every registered San Francisco voter. Each packet will contain an official ballot, instructions, an “I Voted!” sticker, and a postage-paid return envelope.

The Department of Elections will also open San Francisco’s accessible vote-by-mail (AVBM) system 29 days before Election Day (October 10 for the November 8 election). The AVBM system, available to all local voters at sfelections.org/access, offers screen-readable ballots compatible with personal assistive devices.

Whether you plan to cast a paper or accessible ballot, you will need to complete three steps:

	Paper Vote-by-Mail Ballot	Accessible Vote-by-Mail Ballot
1: Mark your Ballot	Read the instructions printed on each of your ballot card before making your selections.	Go to sfelections.org/access to access your ballot and read the online instructions before making your selections.
2: Prepare your Envelope	Remove receipts from the top of your ballot cards, fold each card separately, and place folded cards into the return envelope. Complete and sign the back of the envelope, then seal it.	Print out your ballot and place it in the return envelope. Complete and sign the back of the envelope, then seal it.
3: Return your Ballot	Please pay attention to the dates by which your ballot must be postmarked and received by the Department of Elections in order to be counted, and do not wait until the last minute! To be counted, ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day, November 8, and received by the Department of Elections no later than November 15, 2022. If you mail your ballot on Election Day, please check the last collection time — if the last mail collection has already occurred, your ballot will be postmarked late and will not be counted. This means if you return your ballot on Election Day, you must use a mailbox at which the last collection has not yet occurred or bring the ballot to the City Hall Voting Center, any official ballot drop box, or polling place by 8 p.m. To be counted, ballots returned directly to the Department of Elections must be dropped off no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 8. From October 11 to November 7, you can return your ballot to any official ballot drop box or the City Hall Voting Center. On Election Day, November 8, you can return your ballot to any official ballot drop box, the City Hall Voting Center, or any polling place no later than 8 p.m. The Department of Elections offers 34 official ballot drop boxes in neighborhoods across the City. Drop boxes will be open 24 hours a day starting October 10 through 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 8. A list of ballot drop box locations along with the map are included on pages 8–9 and available at sfelections.org/ballotdropoff.

Did you know that you can track your vote-by-mail ballot to know when it is mailed, received, and processed by the Department of Elections?

Go to sfelections.org/voterportal or sign up to receive ballot notifications via email, text, or voice message at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov.

Vote Early at the City Hall Voting Center

The City Hall Voting Center will be open to all San Franciscans who wish to register to vote or vote in person, use accessible voting equipment, receive personal assistance, or return their mailed ballots:

• Every weekday, starting October 11 through November 7, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• The last two weekends before Election Day (October 29–30 and November 5–6), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• On Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Vote at your Assigned Polling Place on Election Day

Between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 8, 501 polling places will be open for in-person voting and ballot drop-off services.

Your polling place may have changed for this election! Check the address of your assigned polling place, along with accessibility information, on the back cover of this pamphlet. If your assigned polling place changes after this pamphlet has been printed, the Department of Elections will attempt to notify you via a postcard and a sign posted at your old polling place location. Prior to voting on Election Day, you may visit sfelections.org/myvotinglocation to confirm your polling place address.