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This is an archived page.

This page contains information about voting in the the March 5, 2024 election only. As such, it should not be relied on for voting in other elections.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Vote in the San Francisco election!

San Franciscans are being asked to vote for candidates for several local, state, and federal offices, and on state and local ballot measures.

Register to Vote Now
LWVSF member Jenn Wong smiling, wearing a red puffy jacket, dropping off her vote-by-mail ballot in.

Make a voting plan

✅ Understand the election

✅ Register to vote (or update your registration)

✅ Track your ballot

✅ Fill out your ballot

✅ Return your ballot

✅ Get help with ballot pick up, delivery, and return

Understand the election

by February 5

March 5, Election Day!

by February 5

Ballots start being mailed to registered voters and ballot drop off opens.

February 20

March 5, Election Day!

by February 5

Deadline to register to vote or update your registration online or by mail. After this, you can only register in person.

Register to vote

March 5, Election Day!

March 5, Election Day!

March 5, Election Day!

Mailed ballots must be postmarked by this date. Polling places open 7am–8pm.

On the federal level, you will be asked to vote for:

  • President (primary)
    Depending on which political party you registered to vote with.
  • United States Senator
    One of California's two senate seats is up for election. All SF voters can vote for senator.  
  • United States Representative in Congress, Districts 11 and 15
    Look up your district.

On the state level, you will be asked to vote for:

  • State Senator, District 11
    Look up your district.
  • State Assemblymember, Districts 17 and 19
    Look up your district.

On the local San Francisco level, you will be asked to vote for:

  • Party Central Committee
    Depending on which political party you registered to vote with.
  • Judges of the San Francisco Superior Court

You will also be asked to vote on California and San Francisco propositions, also called ballot measures.


Voting for president depends on which political party you are registered with. Check your voter registration to verify your party preference.

  • Political party that has qualified presidential candidates: You'll get a ballot with presidential primary candidates for that political party. 
  • Political party that does NOT have qualified presidential candidates: If you do nothing, you'll get a nonpartisan ballot with no presidential candidates.
  • No party preference: If you do nothing, you'll get a nonpartisan ballot with no presidential candidates. 

To vote for a presidential candidate in a different party, you need to either:

  • Re-register to vote with a political party that has qualified presidential candidates.
  • Request a primary election ballot for one of the parties that allows voters with no party preference to participate in their primaries. These parties will be announced in late 2023.

Remember, you may vote in only one party’s primary election.


No, not this election. There are no Board of Education (school board) races in this election. Eligible non-citizens who are a parent, legal guardian, or caregiver of a child under the age of 19 living in San Francisco only have the right to participate in Board of Education elections — not other items on the ballot. Learn about non-citizen voting in San Francisco. 


No, you don't need to vote for everything on your ballot. Just fill out your ballot as best you can. 


If you want to skip parts of your ballot, that's okay. However, we recommend that you do your best to fill out your entire ballot. If you don't feel like you know enough to vote on something, use our information about ballot measures and candidates to help you learn about what's on your ballot.


Even if you leave something blank on your ballot, your other votes will still be counted —so long as you got your ballot in by the deadline and, if you mailed it, signed and dated the envelope.


Sometimes people want to leave something blank as a protest vote. They might be trying express dissatisfaction with the candidate choices or political system. However, since California voters aren't required to vote for everything on their ballot, a blank protest vote is not reported differently than any other blank vote. Blanks as well as bubbles that are incorrectly filled in are all reported as what's called "undervotes."


If you feel you must cast a protest vote, don't damage your ballot or write messages on it. That can get your entire ballot classified as spoiled, and it won't be counted at all.


There are two places you can track your ballot: 

  • San Francisco Voter Portal — Enter the required information to look up your record. Then, click on the 'Track my ballot' tab to find the status of your ballot.
  • California BallotTrax — Register if it's your first time using that website, or log in if you have an account. After you log in, you'll be shown a dashboard. Look for the section at the top titled 'Current Mail Ballot Status' to find the status of your ballot.

Remember, you must be registered to vote in San Francisco to receive a mailed ballot for voting in San Francisco. 


If it has been more than three days since your ballot was mailed, or if you lost, damaged, or made a mistake marking your ballot, you can request a replacement ballot using the San Francisco Voter Portal or by calling the Department of Elections at 415‑554‑4375.  


Get the League's nonpartisan information about the local propositions, also called ballot measures, in LWVSF's Pros & Cons Guide. 

 

For the League's nonpartisan candidate and state proposition information, visit VOTE411.org. It's our award-winning resource that provides busy voters with reliable, unbiased information about elections. 


You can also get candidate and proposition information in the SF Department of Elections Voter Information Pamphlet and the California Secretary of State Voter Information Guide.  


The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose candidates or political parties, so we do not issue candidate endorsements.


Vote with the League with our ballot recommendations, also known as election endorsements. We have recommendations for San Francisco propositions, also called ballot measures, and the California proposition.


Register to vote (or update your registration)

Register to vote

Verify your registration

Verify your registration

For this election, the last day to register online or by mail is February 20. After then, you can only register in person.

Register to vote

Verify your registration

Verify your registration

Verify your registration

Already registered? Check if your information is up to date. Every registered voter will get a ballot in the mail in early February. 

Check your registration

Update your registration

Verify your registration

Update your registration

Have you changed your address, name, signature, or political party recently? Then you must update your voter registration.

Update your registration

Register to vote online

Through February 20, you can easily register to vote online. You'll need:

  • Your California driver license or identification card number,
  • The last four digits of your social security number, and
  • Your date of birth.

Register Online

Other ways to register

  • Ask the Department of Elections to mail you a paper voter registration form by emailing them or calling 415-554-4375.
  • Register in person at the City Hall Voting Center.
  • Get a form at a post office, library, or DMV office (form availability varies).

Return your voter registration form by the February 20 deadline

If you miss the February 20 deadline to register online or by mail, you can still vote. You'll need to register and vote provisionally in person at the City Hall Voting Center or, on Election Day, at a polling place.

Track your ballot

A person wearing sunglasses and happily shouting holding a sign that says "Your Vote Matters."

All registered voters in California will be mailed a ballot in early February. There are two ways to easily track your ballot as it is printed, mailed, and counted. 

Track on the SF Voter Portal
Sign up for BallotTrax notifications

Registered but didn't get a ballot? Call the Department of Elections at 415-554-4375.

Fill out your ballot

Get educated about what you're voting for

You will be asked to vote for candidates for local, state, and federal offices, and several ballot measures. For more information, check back here for closer to the election.

Make sure your ballot will be counted

Sign the envelope! An unsigned envelope is one of the main reasons ballots get rejected. Your signatures on the envelope and your voter registration record will be compared to make sure they match. The secrecy of your ballot will be protected.


Get it in on time! Vote early if you can. Mail your ballot or drop it off in a ballot drop box or at the City Hall Voting Center.


No stamp, no problem. All vote-by-mail ballots come with prepaid postage envelopes.


Don’t panic. If you make a mistake on your ballot, ask the Department of Elections to send you a replacement by using the Voter Portal or calling 415-554-4375.

Return your ballot

LWVSF member Jennifer Waggoner with fabulous bangs, wearing a black shirt, and holding her vote-by-m

Voting early is your best option — and it's easy!

By voting early, you can return your ballot when it's most convenient. Once you've filled out your ballot as best you can, you must sign, date, and seal the envelope. And then:

 

  • Put it into any blue USPS mailbox. Make sure your ballot gets counted with our tips for mailing your ballot.
  • Use an official ballot drop box. Located throughout the city, drop boxes are available every day, 24 hours a day.
  • Visit the City Hall Voting Center to drop off your ballot or get in-person help from the Department of Elections.

Voting on Election Day

The deadline to return your ballot is 8pm on Election Day on March 5. There are several ways to return your ballot, all available from 7am to 8pm:


  • Use a ballot drop box.
  • Bring it to any polling place in the city.
  • Visit the City Hall Voting Center.
  • Authorize someone to drop off your ballot for you.


If you need to, you can put it in a USPS mailbox, but the envelope must be postmarked no later than Election Day, March 5. Get our tips for mailing your ballot.

Tips for mailing your ballot

A postmark is an official imprint that indicates where and when the U.S. Postal Service accepted your mailed ballot.

The Department of Elections uses the USPS postmark to decide if you mailed your ballot by the Election Day deadline.

On Election Day, check the collection time on the mailbox. If that day's mail has already been picked up, your ballot won't be counted.

If you're not absolutely sure your ballot will be postmarked in time, do not mail it! Instead, use a drop box or go to a polling place.

Get help with ballot pick up, delivery, and return

There are several ways to get assistance with casting your ballot safely and securely. For other help, contact the San Francisco Department of Elections.

If you need a replacement ballot, either ask the Department of Elections to send you a replacement by using the Voter Portal or calling 415-554-4375, use the accessible vote-by-mail system, or authorize someone to pick up a replacement ballot and bring it to you.


If you're unable to return your ballot yourself, you may authorize another person to return your ballot for you. Just complete and sign the authorization section on your ballot return envelope.


If you're hospitalized, in a temporary care facility, or homebound because of illness, disability, or confinement, you may authorize anyone to pick up your ballot and bring it to you. Or, during the week before Election Day, call the Department of Elections at 415-554-4375 or email them to ask for emergency ballot pick up and delivery.


Any registered San Francisco voter can use the accessible vote-by-mail system. It lets you mark a screen readable vote-by-mail ballot using an internet-connected device, such as a computer or tablet. The system works with personal assistive technology, such as screen readers.


You may vote “curbside” at any polling place or at the City Hall Voting Center by calling the Department of Elections at 415-554-4375 or by having a companion enter the building and ask for voting materials to be brought to you outside.


If you're a San Francisco registered voter in the military or another country, you can use the accessible vote-by-mail system. Or, you can choose to get your ballot via email, fax, or postal mail. Check the ballot delivery method in your registration record using the San Francisco Voter Portal.


© 2025 League of Women Voters of San Francisco. All rights reserved.

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