Who can vote
Parents can now vote for school board members in San Francisco if they are all of the following:
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not a US citizen
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a resident of San Francisco
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age 18 or older
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not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction
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parent, legal guardian, or legally-recognized caregiver of a child under the age of 18
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the child you care for lives in the San Francisco Unified School District
What to consider when deciding to register
Each family should make their own decision about whether or not to register to vote by assessing the risks and benefits involved.
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By law, all information parents give the SF Department of Elections is public information. That includes names and addresses. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other state and federal agencies can get public information.
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During the naturalization process, people are asked if they have ever registered to vote or voted in a federal, state or local election in the United States. Prop N voters applying for naturalization will need to include a letter from the SF Department of Elections certifying that they voted legally.
Parents should consult with an immigration attorney, an organization that defends immigrant rights, or another knowledgeable source before registering to vote in San Francisco Board of Education elections.
Talk to an expert.
How to register
Parents who want to vote after seeking legal advice should visit the SF Department of Elections to fill out a Non-Citizen Voter Registration Form.
This form was made available starting on July 16, 2018 and is different than the regular voter registration form. If you're a Prop N voter and you registered using the regular form, contact the Department of Elections now. You must make sure you are registered only through the Prop N affidavit and not for the general election.
About Prop N
In November 2016, San Francisco voters passed Proposition N, allowing qualifying non-citizen parents to vote for members of the San Francisco Board of Education, also known as the School Board. This option will be available for the November 6, 2018 election and the 2020 and 2022 elections.
San Francisco residents who are not U.S. citizens may only vote in San Francisco Board of Education elections, and are not eligible to vote in any other U.S. federal, state, or other local elections. The ballot that Prop N voters use will include only the candidates for Board of Education.