As a San Francisco voter, you can choose to vote in the February 15 election by mail or in person at the City Hall Voting Center or at a polling place.
Vote by Mail
Around January 17, the Department of Elections will begin sending vote-by-mail (VBM) packets, each containing an official ballot, instructions, an “I Voted!” sticker, and a postage-paid return envelope, to all locally registered voters. On January 17, the Department will also open its accessible vote-bymail (AVBM) system, with screen readable ballots compatible with personal assistive devices, at sfelections.org/access. Any registered voter may access their ballot through the AVBM system.
Whether you use a paper or accessible ballot, you will need to complete these three steps:
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Paper Vote-by-Mail Ballot
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Accessible Vote-by-Mail Ballot
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1: Mark your Ballot
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Read the instructions printed on your ballot before making your selections.
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Go to sfelections.org/access to access your ballot and read the online instructions before making your selections.
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2: Prepare your Envelope
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Remove the receipt from the top of your ballot and place the ballot in the return envelope. Complete and sign the back of the envelope, then seal it.
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Print out your ballot and place it in the return envelope. Complete and sign the back of the envelope, then seal it.
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3: Return your Ballot
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To be counted, ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Election Day, February 15. (No postage is required if mailing via the USPS.)
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.
To be counted, ballots returned directly to the Department of Elections must be dropped off no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, February 15. From January 18 to February 15, you can return your ballot to any official ballot drop box or the City Hall Voting Center. On Election Day, February 15, you can return your ballot to any official ballot drop box, the City Hall Voting Center, or any polling place in the City no later than 8 p.m.
New! Thirty four (34) official ballot drop boxes will be open 24 hours a day starting January 18 through 8 p.m. on Election Day, February 15 in neighborhoods across San Francisco. These ballot drop boxes provide voters with a secure, accessible, and contact-free method to return their mailed ballots. Each ballot box bears an American flag and the official seal of the City and County of San Francisco and is clearly marked as an “Official Ballot Drop Box”. A list of ballot drop box locations along with the map are included on pages 6–7. For more information on ballot drop boxes, go to sfelections.org/ballotdropoff or call (415) 554-4375.
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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 January 18 through February 14, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The last two weekends before Election Day (February 5–6 and February 12–13), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• On Election Day, Tuesday, February 15, 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, February 15, 314 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.
