Voting in San Francisco: Where to go, what to bring, and what to know

Tomorrow, November 5, is Election Day

While this year’s election won’t be as fraught as national election years, there will be important measures and propositions that need your vote. San Francisco Mayor Breed is running for election, practically unopposed.

But there are a handful of housing and transit measures at hand, plus a proposition that would authorize the city to take out $600 million in bonds and put the money toward the construction, development, acquisition, and preservation of affordable housing.

Here’s what you need to know before going into the booths.

When to vote

Polls open in San Francisco at 7 a.m. and stay open until 8 p.m.. Please note: If you’re in line at 8 p.m., you’re allowed to vote. You’re also guaranteed the right to take time off work to vote. You can take off a maximum of two hours on Election Day, no matter your job (Familiarize yourself with the SF voters’ bill of rights beforehand.)

Where to find your polling place

Not sure where exactly to vote? There are several ways to find out. Enter your address at California’s Find My Polling Place or ask Google.

• San Francisco, you can find your polling place here.
• Alameda County, find your polling station here.
• Marin County, find your polling station here.

Your polling place is listed on the back of your sample ballot, but if you’ve misplaced it, don’t worry. This state website lets you plug in your address to find out where you need to go.

Who to vote for

We won’t tell you whom or what to vote for in the election, obviously. But any online search will bring up a slew of voting guides.

Housing and infrastructure are Propositions A, D, and E. You an also learn more reading Curbed SF’s 2019 Election Day guide.

When is the last day for me to mail in my ballot?

Return your vote-by-mail ballot on time, either by mail or in person. To be valid, mailed ballots must be postmarked before or on Election Day and received by the Department of Elections no later than Friday, three days after Election Day. Ballots returned in person must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

What to do if you’re harassed while voting

While the chances are slim, there’s always a small possibility that there could be instances of voter intimidation on Tuesday. If you see something that’s not right, contact the California Secretary of State or Election Protection at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).

Can I take a selfie in the voting booth?

Yes. Unlike the 2016 election, it is now legal to snap a selfie inside the voting booth.