The Department of Elections Begins Processing Returned Vote-By-Mail Ballots for the June 2 Election

Department of Elections
City and County of San Francisco
John Arntz, Director

For Immediate Release
SAN FRANCISCO, Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – The Department of Elections will begin processing vote-by-mail ballots returned by voters for the June 2 election. Ballot processing includes sorting and scanning returned ballot envelopes, verifying signatures, extracting ballot cards from envelopes, and scanning them. All steps are conducted in a transparent manner, with live streaming available at sfelections.gov/observe.

“Our personnel process all returned vote-by-mail ballots methodically,” said Director John Arntz. “We follow strict chain-of-custody procedures so that no single individual handles a ballot independently. Staff receive thorough training and review and acknowledge our security protocols before participating in ballot processing. This work takes place in secure, monitored areas that are also open to observers to support transparency.”

The process begins by capturing an image of the signature on each ballot envelope and comparing it with the signature in the voter’s registration record. Once verified, the envelope is opened and the ballot cards are prepared for scanning. Throughout this process, Department personnel follow established safeguards to protect the integrity of the election, ensure one person, one vote, and preserve the secrecy of every ballot.

The Department aims to verify signatures on all returned vote-by-mail ballot envelopes within one day of receipt—whether delivered by the USPS or deposited in an official ballot drop box. This timeline allows for timely updates through the Voter Portal at sfelections.gov/voterportal, where voters can track their ballots and confirm when they have been accepted for counting.

Members of the public are invited to observe the ballot processing in person at the Department’s office in City Hall, Room 48, or via live stream.

For more information about the June 2 election, contact the Department of Elections at (415) 558-6100, email sfvote@sfgov.org, or visit the Department’s office.

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