Non-citizen voting in local Board of Education elections

What to do

In 2016, San Francisco voters passed a new law allowing certain non-citizens to vote in local Board of Education Elections. This law does not allow non-citizens to vote in any other local, state, or federal election.

Non-citizen registration eligibility requirements

To register as a non-citizen voter for the next Board of Education election, you must be all of the following:

1. A San Francisco resident who intends to remain so until the next Board of Education election.*
2. The parent, legal guardian, or caregiver** of a child living in San Francisco.*
3. At least 18 years of age on Election Day; and
4. Not disqualified from voting under state law for imprisonment or mental incompetence.

* To be eligible to vote in Board of Education elections, you and your children must live in San Francisco. However, your children do not need to attend SFUSD schools. If your child attends a private school, or is too young to attend school, you are still eligible to vote in Board of Education elections.

**A caregiver is someone who signs an affidavit to enroll a minor in school and consents to school-related medical care on behalf of the minor. This is determined by state law, in CA Family Code §6550-6552.

Register to vote

Non-citizen voters may only register to vote in a Board of Education election using a specific NCV registration form. Non-citizen voters cannot use the state voter registration form or register at state offices (e.g., Department of Motor Vehicles).

Registration forms for the June 2, 2026, election will be available on this page starting January 2026. These forms will also be available at the Department’s office in City Hall, Room 48, or by mail upon request.

Completed registration forms must be returned by mail (postage paid) or in person. A new NCV registration form must be completed for each Board of Education election by any non-citizen voter.

Registration of any non-citizen voter will expire after each Board of Education election. Non-citizen registrants may cancel their voter registration at any time by contacting the Department of Elections or by returning a NCV registration cancellation form. This form will be available on this page starting January 2026.

Check your voter information

Non-citizen voters may confirm their registration information, check the status of their ballots, and find their assigned polling place by logging in to the Non-Citizen Voter Information Portal (available starting January 2026) or by contacting the Department.

Find your polling place

To find their assigned polling place, voters can contact the Department of Elections, use the Voting Site Wait Times Lookup Tool (available approximately two months before the election), or check the back cover of their Voter Information Booklet, mailed about a month before the election.

Receive your ballot and other materials

For every Board of Education election, the Department of Elections will provide an official ballot listing only Board of Education contests, a Voter Information Booklet containing information about the voting process, candidates, and a sample ballot, as well as various outreach materials specific to non-citizen voters. All of these materials are multilingual and multiformat.

Effect on Naturalization Application

In Part 9 of the latest version of form N-400, “Application for Naturalization”, applicants are asked whether they have registered to vote in any Federal, state, or local election in the United States. Applicants who have only voted in a local election where noncitizens are eligible to vote, such as San Francisco Board of Education elections since 2018, may answer “No” to this question.

Non-citizens seeking advice about the naturalization process, including questions related to voting, are encouraged to contact an attorney or organization specializing in immigration-related matters before submitting any declaration.

Request a verification letter

Upon a voter's request, the Department can provide a letter a) listing the criteria set forth in Charter §13.111(a)(1) for non-United States citizen voting in local Board of Education elections, and b) verifying that a given person voted in a specific Board of Education election. A voter may request this letter by contacting the Department of Elections. This letter may be helpful if you plan to apply for naturalization.

Resources for immigrants

Immigration-related resources

• San Francisco Rapid Response Network
• San Francisco Immigration Support
• Sanctuary City ordinance
• San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative

Immigrant Parent Voting Collaborative

A group of San Francisco organizations that advocates for community voting rights in San Francisco schools

• African Advocacy Network
• Arab Resource and Organizing Center
• Central American Resource Center
• Chinese for Affirmative Action
• Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth
• La Raza Community Resource Center
• Mission Economic Development Agency
• Mission Graduates