With the arrival of fall, San Francisco is full of energy, and this vibrant season brings both neighborhood events and beautiful weather—an ideal time to connect with the community.
With the Statewide Special Election on November 4 approaching, our outreach efforts continue with urgency. We remain committed to making sure residents have the information, resources, and encouragement they need to participate in this election. Community partners are warmly invited to have our Outreach Team present at their events by calling (415) 554-4375 or submitting a request through our Event Request Form.
In this edition of the newsletter, we highlight key dates and information for the upcoming Statewide Special Election, share a brief update on our efforts to engage students and youth across San Francisco, and feature our Community Partner Spotlight on the Latino Task Force.
We hope you find this issue informative and share it within your networks.
Ballots for the November 4 Statewide Special Election Arriving in Early October
Next week, vote-by-mail ballots for the November 4 Election will begin arriving in mailboxes across San Francisco. Every registered voter will receive a vote-by-mail ballot, making it easy to vote at a time and place that works best—whether by mailing the ballot back, dropping it off at one of the City’s 37 drop boxes or the City Hall Voting Center, or bringing it to one of the 100 polling places open on Election Day.
At our upcoming outreach events, we are emphasizing these important reminders to ensure every vote counts:
- Keep an eye out for your ballot in the mail starting the first week of October.
- Try not to wait—vote and return your ballot early if you can.
- Remember to sign the return envelope as your signature is required for your ballot to count.
- Return your ballot by mail (no stamp needed if returned via USPS), at a drop box, or at the City Hall Voting Center.
- Track your ballot at sfelections.gov/voterportal to see when it’s received and counted.
As a trusted community partner, we invite you to share this information in your outreach so that together we can ensure all voters are ready to participate!
Planning to Vote in Person? Check Your Polling Place Location
For voters who prefer to cast their ballot in person, 100 polling places will be open across San Francisco on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Polling place assignments can change from one election to the next, so even those who have voted in person before may have a different location this time. The Department of Elections makes confirming an assigned polling place simple and convenient: details are included in the voting instructions insert enclosed with each vote-by-mail ballot packet, available online at sfelections.gov/myvotinglocation, or by calling (415) 554-4375.
Trusted Resources for the November 4 Statewide Special Election
As voters prepare to participate in the Statewide Special Election, it is important to rely on trusted, official sources for accurate and up-to-date election information to make informed choices and cast ballots with confidence.
Along with the Voter Information Guide from the California Secretary of State and the local Voter Information Pamphlet & Sample Ballot mailed to voters, trusted election information is always just a click away. The San Francisco Department of Elections at sfelections.gov and the California Secretary of State at sos.ca.gov/elections offer reliable resources to help voters stay informed.
Please help us spread the word by directing constituents, friends, family, and neighbors to these trusted resources so that all voters are prepared to participate fully and securely.
California is home to more than 22 million registered voters—that’s more people than the entire population of states like Florida or New York! And you’re one of them—so make your voice heard this election!
Fall 2025 Pre-Registration Card Design Contest
We’re excited to launch a new civic engagement opportunity for San Francisco high school students: the Department’s Fall 2025 Pre-Registration Card Design Contest, opening Monday, September 29.
The contest invites students in grades 9–12, from public, private, and home schools, to design the front image of the Department’s Pre-Registration Card used at outreach events to promote pre-registration and youth civic engagement.
Design submissions are due by October 20, with the winning design announced on October 29 and featured on the Department’s new Pre-Registration Card.
For full contest details, visit our Fall 2025 Pre-Registration Card Design Contest FAQs webpage.
Fall 2025 Elections Ambassador Program
Our Fall 2025 Elections Ambassador Program is off to a great start! More than 50 students from 16 public and private schools across San Francisco have stepped up to serve as Elections Ambassadors this season.
So far, they’ve been busy drafting public service announcements, giving classroom presentations, and hosting voter resource tables—all to spark conversations about the importance of voting and encouraging eligible 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register.
On October 16, we will gather at City Hall for a Celebration Ceremony to recognize their achievements. Students will receive certificates signed by the Mayor, and recognitions will be given for the most registration forms collected and the most creative outreach.
We are grateful to both the Elections Ambassadors and the teachers and administrators who support this initiative and collaborate with the Department of Elections to empower San Francisco’s next generation of voters.
Partner Spotlight: Valerie Tulier-Laiwa and the San Francisco Latino Task Force
This month, we highlight Valerie Tulier-Laiwa and the San Francisco Latino Task Force (LTF).
The Latino Task Force has been a key partner to the Department of Elections in reaching vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities. Together, we have worked to expand voter education, increase access to election resources, and support residents in exercising their right to vote.
As Valerie shared, "I was entrusted by the community to coordinate and co-create the San Francisco Latino Task Force (LTF) and authorized by the City to serve as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW) at the onset and height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by cultural wisdom and rooted in deep community values, the LTF not only serves Latino communities but also stands in solidarity with BIPOC communities across the City who call upon us for support. The LTF looks forward to continuing to partner with the Department of Elections to help ensure Latino and BIPOC communities in San Francisco have access to the election information and voter resources they need to participate fully in elections and civic life."
We are grateful for our partnership with Valerie and the Latino Task Force and look forward to continuing to work together to educate and engage more San Francisco residents to register and VOTE!
Where We Have Been This Month
Our Outreach Team has had another busy month connecting with San Franciscans across the City! We participated in the OCEIA Citizenship Press Day Event, met students at the UCSF College Campus Events, connected with neighbors at Fiesta de las Americas in the Mission and at Sunday Streets in the Western Addition, and joined the SF Public Library Noe Valley and West Portal Branch Library Open Houses.
At each event, we shared resources to help residents stay vote-ready and valued the opportunity to connect with the community. We look forward to continuing these efforts in the month ahead.
Here are a few highlights from our recent outreach efforts:
UCSF 2025 Fall Celebration
Assisted new college students with voter registration
Noe Valley Branch Resource Table
Informed SF residents about elections and registration
OCEIA National Citizenship Day Event
Provided voter registration in front of SF City Hall
Until Next Month
Thank you for reading this edition! We’ll return in October with more updates on the Statewide Special Election and our work across San Francisco.
In the meantime, please make a plan to vote and share the importance of participation with those around you.
Warmly,
Your Outreach Team: Nataliya, Anmarie, Adriana, Tiff, Max, and Edgar