Outreach Community Newsletter March 2026

In this edition, we are sharing updates and resources to support your outreach as our communities prepare for the upcoming election. We help address common questions about voter registration eligibility, highlight ways residents can serve as poll workers or choose digital election materials to help conserve resources, and share trusted official sources of election information that people can rely on. You will also find an update on the Spring 2026 Elections Ambassador Program, along with a glimpse into our recent outreach efforts.

We hope this edition offers helpful insight into our ongoing work to support and serve San Francisco voters, as well as useful information to assist with your outreach efforts.

Registering to vote is simple, takes just a few minutes, and many residents are eligible. Voter registration is available year-round, including on Election Day.

Below we are highlighting five common misconceptions and sharing the facts so you can pass this information along through your outreach and help ensure that more residents understand their eligibility and feel encouraged to participate in local elections.

Misconception 1: People without a fixed residence cannot register to vote.
Fact: Residents who do not have a fixed address can still register. A person experiencing homelessness may list a location where they spend most of their time, such as cross streets, a park, or a shelter, as their home address on the registration form. They may also use a shelter or service provider as a mailing address to receive election materials.

Misconception 2: People with past felony convictions are not eligible to register to vote.
Fact: In California, voting rights are restored once a person has completed a prison sentence. Individuals on parole, probation, or other forms of supervised release are eligible to register and vote. While people currently serving a felony sentence in prison are not eligible, their right to vote is automatically restored upon release, and they may register and participate in elections again.

Misconception 3: People who miss the regular registration deadline cannot register to vote.
Fact: Eligible residents can still register and vote in person during the conditional voter registration period, including on Election Day. This can be done at any San Francisco polling place, at the City Hall Voting Center, or at the Department of Elections office in Room 48 at City Hall.

Misconception 4: Young people must wait until they turn 18 to register.
Fact: In California, 16- and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote. Their registration will automatically become active when they turn 18, and they will begin receiving their ballot and election materials at that time.

Misconception 5: People need a birth certificate to register to vote.
Fact: A birth certificate is not required to register. Most people can register using a California driver’s license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. If a voter does not have these, they may still be able to register and provide another acceptable form of identification when voting if needed.

Next week, San Francisco voters who have provided an email address as part of their voter registration record will receive a message from the Department of Elections. The email will highlight two important ways residents can support the upcoming June 2 election.

First, voters will be invited to serve as poll workers. Poll workers play a key role in helping provide a welcoming, safe, and secure voting experience on Election Day and may earn up to $295 for their service.

The email will also highlight an opportunity for voters to help conserve resources by choosing to receive their Voter Information Pamphlet (VIP) online instead of by mail. While state law requires the Department to mail a printed pamphlet to every registered voter, individuals may opt for the digital version or choose to receive just one copy per household. Requests to make this change for the June 2 election should be submitted by April 6.

We encourage outreach partners to help share these messages and support community awareness about ways residents can participate in and contribute to a successful and environmentally responsible election.

To apply to serve as a poll worker, visit sfelections.gov/pw.
To choose the digital pamphlet option, visit sfelections.gov/paperless.

The San Francisco Department of Elections is here to support our communities by providing clear, comprehensive, and nonpartisan election information. As residents begin preparing for the upcoming election, we encourage everyone to stay connected to trusted, official sources — including the Department of Elections and the California Secretary of State — for reliable election updates, helpful resources, and official election results.

The Department’s website, sfelections.gov, is a helpful and easy-to-use resource, offering election information in English, Chinese, Spanish, Filipino, and Vietnamese. Voters can also use the Voter Portal at sfelections.gov/voterportal to review or update their registration record, track their ballot, find their polling place, view their elected representatives, and access other useful services.

San Franciscans can stay connected by following the Department of Elections (@SFElections) on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and Nextdoor. To receive official election news and reminders directly by email, sign up at sfelections.gov/trustedinfo. Assistance is also available by phone at (415) 558-6100, where our multilingual staff are ready to answer questions and provide support.

If you encounter election information that may be inaccurate or misleading, please help by reporting it to the California Secretary of State at catrustedinformation@sos.ca.gov and to the Department of Elections at sfvote@sfgov.org. Together, we can help ensure that all residents have access to reliable information and feel confident participating in the election.

Do you know a San Francisco high school student interested in getting more involved in civic life? Or a teacher looking for meaningful civic engagement or community service opportunities for their students? Applications are now open for the Spring 2026 San Francisco High School Elections Ambassador Program and the deadline to apply is March 30.

The Department of Elections offers this program during California’s annual High School Voter Education Weeks, from April 13 through April 24. This program gives students the opportunity to learn how to develop outreach plans and promote pre-registration among their peers. Student ambassadors attend a training workshop and receive the tools and materials needed to lead outreach activities in their schools and neighborhoods. The program concludes with a recognition ceremony at City Hall, where participants receive a Certificate of Participation signed by the Mayor.

We look forward to supporting the next generation of voters and helping young San Franciscans build the knowledge and enthusiasm to participate in elections.

This month, we invite you to take part in a simple yet meaningful activity: start five conversations about registering to vote and participating in the June 2 election. With this newsletter reaching more than 200 outreach partners across local community-based organizations and City agencies, together we have the opportunity to spark over 1,000 conversations throughout San Francisco.

Whether you connect with a friend, colleague, neighbor, or someone you meet at a community gathering, each conversation helps raise awareness and supports San Franciscans in feeling informed, confident, and ready to participate.

Have a story to share about how your conversations went? We would love to hear from you. Please consider sending a short reflection to sfoutreach@sfgov.org — your experience may be featured in a future edition of this newsletter to help inspire and encourage others.

Over the past month, the Department’s outreach team had the opportunity to connect with San Franciscans across the city through various community and youth-focused events.

Outreach staff hosted voter resource tables at the Chinese New Year Festival, the UN Plaza Farmers’ Market, the EDD San Francisco Job Fair, Glide, the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch, and Latino Task Force hubs in the Mission and Excelsior. At these events, our team assisted with voter registration, shared key deadlines, and provided information about non-citizen voting in the Board of Education election.

The outreach team also participated in Project Homeless Connect and the Information and Resource Conference for Families of Children living with disabilities. These events created welcoming and convenient opportunities for members of hard-to-reach and vulnerable communities to access voter registration and other election-related services.

The team also focused on engaging young adults through voter resource tables at San Francisco State University, presentations on the history of voting rights and demonstrations of the City’s voting system at St. Ignatius High School, and participation in the Youth Civic Engagement Summit hosted by Voters of Tomorrow at the University of San Francisco. Through these efforts, the Department is helping the next generation of voters feel informed and ready to participate in local elections.

Here are a few highlights from our recent events:

Assisted voters with updating their language preferences and registering to vote

Shared information on accessible services and programs with residents

Shared information on employment opportunities and poll worker service

Thank you for being a valued partner in our outreach efforts. We truly appreciate the time and care you invest in sharing election information with our communities, and we look forward to continuing this work as San Franciscans prepare for the June 2 election.

We also look forward to connecting again in April with additional election updates. In the meantime, we wish you a wonderful month ahead.

Warmly,
Your Outreach Team: Nataliya, Anmarie, Adriana, Max, and Edgar