As summer unfolds, communities across San Francisco are coming together in a spirit of celebration, reflection, and connection. For the Department of Elections, this season is also a time of meaningful outreach, as we deepen our efforts to connect with voters across the city.
This edition of the newsletter is dedicated to accessibility, highlighting the many ways we work to ensure that every voter can participate in local elections. From updates on accessible voting tools to community events and the behind-the-scenes work of preparing accessible polling places, we’re proud to spotlight the people and partnerships that help make our elections accessible and welcoming for all.
We hope you find this month’s edition both informative and inspiring—and that you’ll continue sharing these resources throughout your communities.
Accessible Voting in San Francisco
The Department of Elections is committed to ensuring that all San Franciscans can vote privately and independently. A variety of services are available to support voters with disabilities, whether voting by mail or in person.
For each election, the Department provides a Voter Information Pamphlet that includes a sample ballot and information about voting options. This pamphlet is also available in accessible formats, including large print, audio CD, flash drive, and National Library Service cartridge.
The Accessible Vote-by-Mail system, available on the Department’s website, allows voters to download and mark their ballots on an internet-connected device, such as a computer or tablet, using their preferred assistive tools, including screen readers, head-pointers, or sip-and-puff devices. Voters using the AVBM system must print and return their completed ballot by mail or in-person.
Voters who are unable to travel due to health or mobility challenges may request ballot delivery or pickup services by contacting the Department.
At the City Hall Voting Center, which opens 29 days before each election, and at all polling places on Election Day, voters have access to several accessible resources including page magnifiers, pen grips, and ballot-marking devices with touchscreen and audio options. At all in-person voting sites, additional support is also available for those who need curbside voting or assistance with marking a ballot.
The Department’s ongoing collaboration with its Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee and partners such as the Mayor’s Office on Disability and Disability Rights California guide our efforts to provide accessible and inclusive election services for all San Franciscans. As Department Director John Arntz explains, this collaboration ensures that “every local voter can continue to engage in the voting process with independence and ease,” while also helping the Department explore new ways to improve and expand access to voting services.
Voter using the accessible Ballot Marking Device
Spotlight: Our Longtime Accessibility Partner and Poll Worker
As we look ahead to upcoming elections, the Department of Elections is already recruiting poll workers for the June 2026 Consolidated Statewide Primary Election. We welcome San Franciscans of all backgrounds to consider serving!
Poll workers play a vital role in making in-person voting possible. From opening polling places and setting up equipment to assisting voters and maintaining a professional, nonpartisan environment, poll workers help ensure that Election Day runs smoothly, securely, and accessibly for everyone.
Few people embody the dedication and impact of this role more than Elizabeth Dunlap, a longtime San Francisco poll worker who has served in an extraordinary forty-one elections.
Elizabeth’s poll worker journey began in 1996, when her church, also serving as a polling place, needed a trusted volunteer. At the time, she was a student at San Francisco State University and stepped forward to help. Since then, she has supported voters at polling places across the city. For many years now, she has served as a poll worker at the Bethany Center, where she has taken on the role of Inspector in 21 elections. Her leadership and care have become a defining part of the neighborhood voting experience.
In addition to her service on Election Day, Elizabeth brings her insight to the Department’s Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee, where she helps make elections more inclusive. She hopes her experience inspires others to get involved and share their voices.
If you’re interested in joining the San Francisco Poll Worker Team, visit sfelections.gov/pollworker to learn more and apply.
Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26 marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law that continues to advance inclusion and accessibility in all areas of public life, including the right to vote. The ADA has played a vital role in ensuring that voters with disabilities have equal access to the electoral process through accessible polling places, voting systems, and support services.
At the Department of Elections, we are proud to celebrate this milestone by joining communities across the city.
On Wednesday, June 25, our outreach team will present on accessible voter resources at the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities Regional Advisory Committee meeting. That same week, on June 26, we will be hosting a Voter Resource Table at LightHouse Day at LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, where attendees can learn more about accessible voting tools and services.
On Saturday, July 26, we’ll join fellow City agencies and community partners in Golden Gate Park, on Music Concourse Drive across from the Bandshell, to celebrate the ADA’s legacy. We invite community members to stop by our table to learn more about the accessible voting services available to San Franciscans.
Behind the Scenes: Locating Accessible Polling Places
Ensuring that every voter can access a safe, welcoming, and accessible polling place is a vital part of our work at the Department of Elections. While many long-standing accessible sites are used election after election, when a location becomes unavailable, the Department begins a thorough search for a new site—with accessibility as a top priority.
Our team evaluates each potential location for compliance with ADA guidelines and California election accessibility standards, including features like ramps, clear signage, safe pathways, adequate lighting, and proximity to public transit. When needed, we work with facility owners to make temporary modifications, such as adding ramps or signage, to improve access.
Locating and preparing accessible polling places is more than a logistical task—it’s a reflection of our commitment to fair and inclusive elections. Thanks to the efforts of our team and community partners, San Francisco continues to lead in providing accessible, equitable voting options for all.
Upcoming District 4 Recall Election
On September 16, 2025, voters in District 4 will decide whether to recall their current Supervisor. The ballot will include a yes-or-no question asking whether the Supervisor should be removed from office. If more voters select “No,” the Supervisor will remain in office. If “Yes” receives more votes, the Supervisor will be removed, and the Mayor will appoint a replacement to serve until the next scheduled election.
On May 22, 2025, a group of D4 voters submitted more than 10,500 valid signatures, meeting the threshold required to qualify the recall for the ballot. After verifying the signatures, the Department of Elections set the election date for September 16.
The Department will send vote-by-mail packets to all registered District 4 voters beginning August 18. That same day, three official ballot drop boxes will open at the Ortega Branch Library (3223 Ortega St), the Parkside Branch Library (1200 Taraval St), and City Hall (1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl.). Early voting will also begin at City Hall on August 18.
On Election Day, 20 polling places in District 4 will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Department will release preliminary election results on Election Night at approximately 8:45 p.m., and final results will be certified no later than October 16.
To learn more about the recall, including voter eligibility and ways to vote, visit the District 4 Recall Election webpage accessible from the sfelections.gov homepage.
The Department of Elections is currently preparing to administer this election, including identifying polling places, recruiting poll workers, and developing voter information materials.
Where We Have Been This Month
This month, our Outreach Team joined communities across San Francisco in celebration, reflection, and civic engagement. From Juneteenth gatherings to Pride Month events, we are proud to be present and connect with residents during these meaningful moments.
From assisting voters with registration and updates to sharing information about available election services and upcoming elections, we’re grateful for every opportunity to support engaged communities and help voters stay informed, empowered, and ready to participate. Take a look at some highlights from our recent events:
Sunday Streets Tenderloin
Provided voter registration assistance to residents
Outside Lands Job Fair
Shared information on job and poll worker service opportunities with residents
Fillmore Juneteenth Festival
Promoted accessible voter resources and youth civic engagement programs to residents
Until Next Month
That’s a wrap on this edition of the Outreach Community Newsletter! We’ll be back next month with more updates, highlights, and helpful tools to support San Francisco voters.
In the meantime, we wish you a safe and wonderful Fourth of July. From all of us at the Department of Elections, thank you for being such valuable outreach partners.
Warmly,
Your Outreach Team: Nataliya, Anmarie, Adriana, Tiff, Max, and Edgar