The Nov. 4, 2014, election actually starts well in advance of that date, with in many places a majority of voters casting their ballots early. We have compiled some information to help you this voting season.
To register
To be able to vote in this election, your registration card must be received by the Department of Elections by Oct. 20.
If you want to vote by mail, your request needs to be received by Oct. 28; you can either apply online to vote by mail only for this election, or you can fill out a paper form and send that in to request mail voting for all elections. Go to sfelections.org/tools/voterkit/index.html.
Where to vote
If you don’t already know where to vote, you can look up your nearest polling place in an online directory. The Department of Elections will post this feature in early Oct., and it will be found at sfelections.org/tools/pollsite/.
You can also vote early at City Hall beginning Oct. 6. The hours are 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday, Oct. 6–Nov. 4; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 25–26 and Nov. 1–2 (use the Grove Street entrance); and 7 a.m.–8 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.
When to vote
Early voting — whether by mail or at City Hall — begins on Oct. 6.
On election day, Nov. 4, polls are open 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
What’s on the ballot
Offices
- Governor
- Lt. Governor
- U.S. Representative in Congress: Districts 12 and 14
- Secretary of State
- Controller
- State Assembly: Districts 17 and 19
- State Treasurer
- Attorney General
- Insurance Commissioner
- Member, State Board of Equalization: District 2
- Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Justices of the California Supreme Court
- Justices of the California Courts of Appeal
- Superior Court Judge: Office Number 20
- BART Board of Directors: District 8
- Board of Education
- Community College Board
- Assessor-Recorder
- Public Defender
- Board of Supervisors: Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10
State Measures
- Proposition 1: Water Bond; Funding for Water Quality, Supply, Treatment and Storage Projects
- Proposition 2: State Budget; Budget Stabilization
Account
- Proposition 45: Health Insurance; Rate Changes
- Proposition 46: Drug and Alcohol Testing of Doctors; Medical Negligence Lawsuits
- Proposition 47: Criminal Sentences; Misdemeanor Penalties
- Proposition 48: Indian Gaming Compacts
Local Measures
- Proposition A: San Francisco Transportation and Road Improvement Bond
- Proposition B: Adjusting Transportation Funding for Population Growth
- Proposition C: Children’s Fund; Public Education Enrichment Fund; Children and Families Council; Rainy Day Reserve
- Proposition D: Retiree Health Benefits for Former Redevelopment Agency and Successor Agency Employees
- Proposition E: Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
- Proposition F: Pier 70
- Proposition G: Additional Transfer Tax on Residential Property Sold Within 5 Years of Purchase
- Proposition H: Requiring Certain Golden Gate Park Athletic Fields to Be Kept As Grass With No Artificial Lighting
- Proposition I: Renovation of Playgrounds, Walking Trails, and Athletic Fields
- Proposition J: Minimum Wage Increase
- Proposition K: Affordable Housing
- Proposition L: Policy Regarding Transportation Priorities
Politics in action
You can complete your participation in this democratic exercise by watching streaming video of the processing of the mail votes. It will be available on the Department of Elections website at sfgov2.org/index.aspx?page=4080.
Sources: City and County of San Francisco Department of Elections; Ballotpedia; California Secretary of State
