An accurate and complete vote count takes time!

The November 5, 2024, Consolidated General Election ballot will be one of the longest in the City’s history. This means that for every voter who casts a ballot, the Department must process multiple separate cards. 

While exact turnout numbers are not known until the election, presidential election cycles typically result in high turnout (see historical turnout data).

If all of San Francisco’s approximately half a million voters participate, the Department will need to count around three million ballot cards, each containing numerous markings. 

The Department's task is further complicated by the need to process a variety of ballot types, including standard, vote-by-mail, and provisional, accessible, and military/overseas ballots. Each type has specific handling and processing requirements, adding layers of complexity to the counting process.

Moreover, the Department will undertake a series of audits and validation procedures post-election to confirm the accuracy of the results. These steps are essential to maintaining public trust in the electoral process and ensuring that every valid vote is counted accurately.

A few years ago, the Department of Elections began automatically mailing every registered voter a vote-by-mail packet. Following the debut of this universal vote-by-mail requirement (which was first implemented during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and made permanent by state law soon thereafter), voting by mail has become very popular, with over 80% of City voters choosing to cast their ballots by mail each election. While voting by mail is undoubtedly very convenient for many voters, it does require additional effort on the part of election workers. 

Unlike standard ballots issued at the polls, vote-by-mail ballots are not scanned by voters themselves; therefore, to maintain the integrity of the election, these ballots must undergo additional processing steps before being scanned and counted. This processing begins with an examination of each ballot envelope, which must be scanned and uploaded into the recipient voter’s Election Information Management System (EIMS) voter file. 

Once in the EIMS system, Department staff use a three-stage review process to compare the voter signature on the envelopes with the signatures in their voter file to determine if they compare. If the signatures compare, the ballot is accepted for counting. If not, it must be challenged, and the voter is given an opportunity to correct the issue. Only once the voter’s identity has been confirmed can the envelope be opened and the ballot inside scanned and counted.

By law, the Department must continue to process any vote-by-mail ballots received up through one week after Election Day, including any San Francisco ballots returned to different counties. Additionally, state law requires the Department to process ballots “cured” by voters (e.g., when a voter returns a ballot by mail and forgets to sign the envelope but does so after notification) up until two days before the certification deadline.

These extensive procedures are not only mandated by state election law, but also ensure the accuracy and integrity of the vote-by-mail process and reinforce voter confidence and trust in the process. 

In addition to processing many thousands of vote-by-mail ballots, the Department must also handle thousands of provisional ballots. Processing these provisional ballots requires significant time and effort, as each one undergoes a meticulous validation process. Department staff must verify the voter's registration status, resolve any discrepancies, and confirm eligibility before any counting can commence. 

This thorough verification ensures that each provisional ballot is legitimate and that every eligible vote is counted accurately.