Department of Elections
City and County of San Francisco
John Arntz, Director
For Immediate Release
SAN FRANCISCO, Thursday, October 3, 2024 – This week, the Department of Elections will mail official voting materials to local non-citizen residents registered to vote in the Board of Education Election on November 5. Each voter will receive a packet with a one-card ballot listing the Board of Education contest only, a postage-paid return envelope, an insert with voting instructions, and an “I Voted!” sticker along with the Voter Information Booklet, which provides information about the voting process, details on Board of Education candidates, and a sample ballot.
On Monday, October 7, the Department will launch the Accessible Vote-by-Mail System (AVBM) tailored to non-citizen voters, available at sfelections.gov/ncvaccess. This system allows such voters to download and mark their vote-by-mail ballot using a screen-reader, head-pointer, sip-and-puff device, or other assistive technology. Once a voter has completed their ballot, they are required to print it and return it either by mail or in person.
Eligible non-citizen voters can visit the City Hall Voting Center, which opens on Monday, October 7. At the Voting Center, voters can obtain registration forms and receive their ballots. On Election Day, eligible non-citizens can also visit a polling place to register and receive their ballots.
The Department has created a dedicated webpage with information related to non-citizen registration and voting: sfelections.gov/NCV. This page features links to tailored registration forms, as well as details on eligibility, registration, and voting options. The page also includes links to immigration-related resources and outreach materials. Prospective voters can download a non-citizen Voter Registration Form on this page or request a paper form by calling the Department of Elections at (415) 554-4375 or visiting the Department’s office, Room 48 in City Hall.
Non-citizen voters can confirm their registration information, check the status of their ballots, and find their assigned polling place by logging into a portal at sfelections.gov/ncvportal.
The Department of Elections has dedicated many outreach efforts to raising awareness about non-citizen registration and voting. The Department also encourages local organizations that serve non-citizen residents, as well as the media, to assist in disseminating information about this program within immigrant communities.
Background
In 2016, San Francisco voters passed Proposition N, establishing the non-citizen voting program that allows non-citizen parents, caregivers, and guardians of children residing in San Francisco to vote in local Board of Education elections. Since then, the Department of Elections has conducted five elections under this program.
To be eligible to register and vote in a local Board of Education Election, a non-citizen resident must meet the following criteria: 1) Be 18 years or older on Election Day; 2) Not be imprisoned for a felony conviction; 3) Not be found incompetent to vote by a court; and 4) Be the legally recognized parent, guardian, or caregiver of a child under 19 who also lives in San Francisco.
###
Department of Elections
City and County of San Francisco
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
City Hall, Room 48
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 554-4375
sfelections.gov