San Francisco residents will soon be able to start casting their ballots for the primary election on June 2.
The Department of Elections announced that the U.S. Postal Service has started mailing out ballots to registered voters. More than 500,000 ballots will be delivered, with each packet containing a two-card ballot, a return envelope, and voting instructions.
On Monday, 37 ballot drop-off boxes will open around the city and be available 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. on Election Day. An interactive map of the box locations can be found on the Department of Elections website.
Those who send or drop off mail-in ballots will be able to track their ballots during mailing, signature verification, and counting. Voters can select the “Track My Ballot” tab or get updates via text, email, or voicemail by visiting the California Ballottrax website.
In addition, the department is launching the Accessible Vote-By-Mail, or AVBM portal. The portal allows voters to download and mark their ballots using a screen reader, head pointer or other assistive technology.
“Voting by mail is secure and dependable,” Elections Director John Arntz said in a statement. “We prioritize ballot security at every step.”
Registered voters should expect to receive their ballots in the mail by May 8. Voters who don’t get their ballots by that date are asked to contact the Elections Department at (415) 558-6100 or submit a request through the “Request a Replacement Ballot” tab on the city’s portal site.
How to vote in person
Voters who want to cast their ballots in person also have several options.
An in-person voting center will open Monday at City Hall and remain open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through June 1.
The center will also be open during the two weekends before Election Day — May 23-24 and May 30-31 — from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On June 2, it will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The voting center, like all polling places in the city, will allow eligible residents to register or update their registration, request a replacement ballot or cast their votes in person.
There will be accessible voting equipment using touchscreen devices or options with audio. Language support is also available in hundreds of languages so that voters can access election information in the format or language they prefer.
Residents can also vote in-person at one of the more than 500 polling places across the city that will open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters will be assigned a polling place based on their registered home address.
“Our goal is to make voting accessible, convenient, and inclusive for every San Franciscan,” Arntz said. “Whether voting by mail, at a neighborhood polling place, or at City Hall, voters can choose the option that works best for them and feel confident in the process.”
