Non-Citizen Registration and Voting
Non-citizen voting will be available at the next San Francisco School Board election, scheduled for November 3, 2020.
In the November 2016 election, San Francisco voters passed Proposition N, Non-Citizen Voting in School Board Elections, by a vote of 54% to 46%.
Proposition N is a Charter amendment that extends the voting rights in San Francisco School Board elections to non-citizen residents of San Francisco who are of legal voting age, not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction, and who are parents, legal guardians, or legally recognized caregivers of children under the age of 19 living in San Francisco.
In May 2018, the Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance amending the Municipal Elections Code to implement Proposition N by requiring the Department of Elections to develop a non-citizen voter registration form and other documents related to non-citizen voting in School Board elections. The ordinance also requires a notice (provided below) on non-citizen voter materials that any information provided to the Department may be obtained by the federal government.
To learn about registering and participating in the November 3, 2020, School Board Election, we invite you to explore this page and to contact the Department of Elections with any questions.
Non-citizen voting in School Board elections is set to expire on December 31, 2022. Thereafter, the Board of Supervisors may adopt an ordinance allowing it to continue.
Charter Amendment - Non Citizen Voting in School Board Elections (PDF)
ORDINANCE NO. 128-18 [Municipal Elections Code - Noncitizen Voting in School Board Elections] (PDF)
Important Notice for Non-U.S. Citizens
Registering to Vote in the School Board Election
Non-U.S. citizens who are eligible to register and vote in the School Board Election must submit a new Voter Registration Form to the Department of Elections before every School Board Election. This means that those who were registered to vote in the November 2018 School Board election or the November 2019 School Board Election must submit a new registration application if they wish to participate in the November 2020 School Board Election.
Eligibility Requirements
If you are not a U.S. citizen and meet the requirements below, you may register and vote in the San Francisco School Board Election on November 3, 2020.
- Resident of San Francisco and do not plan to move before November 3, 2020
- At least 18 years old on November 3, 2020
- Parent, legal guardian, or caregiver* of a child under 19 living in San Francisco
- Not in state or federal prison, or on parole for the conviction of a felony
- Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court
Note: Registering to vote in the San Francisco School Board Election on November 3 does not permit you to vote in any other federal, state, or local elections.
Registering to Vote
To register to vote, download and print a Non-Citizen Voter Registration Form (PDF). You can also contact the Department of Elections to request a paper form by mail or register in person at the Department’s office in City Hall, Room 48.
Read the Important Notice and eligibility checklist on the front of the form, then complete and sign the application on the back. Return the form by mail or in person by the registration deadline, October 19. (If you miss the registration deadline, you can register conditionally and vote provisionally at any voting center or polling place. For locations and hours, visit the Ways to Vote page.)
Once your Non-Citizen Voter Registration Form is processed, the Department will mail you a Voter Notification Letter to confirm your registration. If you do not receive the letter within two weeks, contact the Department of Elections.
To confirm your registration information and track the status of your ballot, use the Non-Citizen Voter Information Portal or contact the Department.
Cancelling your Voter Registration
If you wish to cancel your voter registration prior to the November 3, 2020, School Board Election, download, complete and provide to the Department a Request to Cancel Voter Registration (PDF). A Request to Cancel Voter Registration Form can also be obtained by calling the Department at (415) 554-4375 or in person at the Department’s office, Room 48 in City Hall.
Ways to Vote in the School Board Election
All registered voters, including non-citizen voters, will be mailed ballots for the November 3, 2020, Election. The Department of Elections will also offer in-person voting services at voting centers and polling places.
In early October, the Department of Elections will mail you an official vote-by-mail ballot packet for the November 3, 2020, School Board Election and a Voter Information Booklet. The booklet includes information about the candidates running for School Board and a sample ballot that you can use to practice marking your choices before marking your official ballot.
To vote in the School Board Election, you may choose to vote and return your vote-by-mail ballot, or vote in person at a voting center or polling place.
Vote and Return Your Vote-by-Mail Ballot
Your vote-by-mail ballot packet will contain an official ballot, an instructional insert, an official postage-paid return envelope, and an “I Voted” sticker.
Follow the instructions on the top of the ballot card to mark your selections. When you are done voting, remove the receipt from the ballot card, fold the card, put the card in the return envelope, and peel away the self-sealing strip to seal the envelope.
To be counted, you must sign the return envelope and return your ballot on time!
If you return your ballot by mail, your ballot return envelopes must be postmarked by Election Day, November 3 (check collection times if you use a blue USPS mailbox to mail your envelope on November 3).
If you return your ballot in person, you must do so no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. All 588 polling places throughout the City will be open for vote-by-mail ballot drop-off from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. You may also authorize someone else to return your ballot by providing the required information on the back of your vote-by-mail return envelope.
In Person at a Voting Center or Polling Place
Voting centers provide ballots and services to all City residents who wish to pick up or drop off vote-by-mail ballots, register to vote (before or after the registration deadline), obtain personal assistance, use accessible voting equipment, obtain replacement ballots, or cast their ballots in person.
The City Hall Voting Center will be open during the 29-day early voting period during these times:
- Every weekday, October 5-November 2, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Two weekends, October 24-25 and October 31-November 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (same voting hours as polling places).
Beginning Saturday, October 31 and through Election Day, the Department intends to open additional voting centers (locations will be determined in early September).
Also beginning October 31, the Department will provide ballot drop-off box outside each voting center during hours of operation.
On Election Day, all polling places and voting centers are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Use the Non-Citizen Voter Portal or check to the back of your Voter Information Booklet to locate your assigned polling place.
To receive a ballot at a polling place or voting center, you will provide your name and address to the poll worker or voting center representative who will then look up your registration information and issue your ballot.
All voting centers and polling places offer accessibility tools for marking paper ballots such as easy-grip pens and magnifying glasses, as well as accessible touchscreen and audio versions of the ballot in English, Chinese (with both Cantonese and Mandarin audio), Spanish, and Filipino. If you prefer to vote an audio or touchscreen ballot, tell a poll worker or voting center representative.
After marking your paper or accessible ballot, you will insert the ballot into a voting machine (at a polling place) or a Ballot Box (at a voting center).
If you need assistance when voting, ask a poll worker or voting center representative. You may also bring up to two people with you when you vote, as long as they are not representatives of your employer or your union.
Authorize Someone to Pick up Your Ballot
To authorize someone to pick up your ballot, complete and sign the Ballot Pick-Up Authorization Form for Non-Citizen Voters (coming August 2020) The person you authorize must bring this completed form to a voting center.
Check the Status of Your Ballot
To check the status of your ballot, use the Non-Citizen Voter Information Portal or contact the Department.
Resources and FAQs Related to Registration and Voting
The Department provides various resources (e.g., a Guide to Registration and Voting for Non-Citizens, a flyer with eligibility requirements and key dates) for prospective registrants, which may also be used by organizations and individuals conducting outreach about non-citizen voting.
If you are interested in obtaining voter education materials, please use the Outreach and Educational Materials Request Form or call (415) 554-4375.
The Department maintains a webpage on sfelections.org listing organizations with tax exempt status under 26 United States Code Section 9501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) whose primary mission is protecting the rights of immigrants. The Department will also create a form organizations may use to affirm that they meet these criteria.
The Frequently Asked Questions on Non-Citizen Voting in School Board Elections provides answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about non-citizen voting.
- What events led to non-citizen voting in San Francisco School Board elections?
- Why does the Department provide a notice to non-citizens on registration and voting materials?
- For which School Board elections will non-citizen voting be available?
- How will the Department of Elections prepare for non-citizen voting?
- How will the Department of Elections conduct outreach on non-citizen voting?
- Will all non-citizens be eligible to register to vote in San Francisco School Board elections?
- Are non-citizens whose children are not in school eligible to register to vote in San Francisco School Board elections?
- Are non-citizens, who do not reside in San Francisco themselves, but who care for children who reside or attend school in San Francisco, eligible to register to vote in San Francisco School Board elections?
- How will non-citizens determine if they are eligible to vote in School Board Elections?
- How can non-citizens register to vote in School Board elections?
- Where can non-citizens obtain a Voter Registration Form?
- Will non-citizens be able to register to vote online or when visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)?
- When registering to vote, will non-citizens need to provide proof of their own or their child’s residency?
- What is the deadline to register to vote in San Francisco School Board election on November 3, 2020?
- Will non-citizen registration remain effective for future School Board elections?
- How can non-citizen voters learn about School Board candidates?
- What voting options will be available to non-citizen registrants?
- How will non-citizen voters who wish to vote by mail request a ballot?
- Will non-citizen voters have the option to vote in person?
- How will non-citizen voters find their assigned polling places?
- Which contests will be on the ballot for non-citizen voters?
- Will an accessible ballot be available to non-citizen voters?
- How will non-citizens vote at the polls?
- Will non-citizen voters need to show ID or provide other documents when voting in person at polling places or voting centers?
- Will registration and voting information of non-citizens remain confidential?
- Will the Department provide a letter confirming that non-citizens may vote in San Francisco?
- Will non-citizens be able to cancel their voter registration after having completed a Voter Registration Affidavit?
- Who can provide answers to specific immigration-related questions about non-citizen voting?
Background
- What events led to non-citizen voting in San Francisco School Board elections?
In July of 2016, the Board of Supervisors voted to place Proposition N on the ballot. Proposition N proposed a change to the City Charter granting non-citizen San Francisco residents who are the parents, legal guardians, or caregivers of children themselves residing in San Francisco the right to vote for members of the Board of Education. In November of 2016, San Francisco voters passed Proposition N with fifty-four percent approval.
Subsequently, in May of 2018, the Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance requiring the Department of Elections (Department) to take certain steps in the implementation of Proposition N. This ordinance requires the Department to develop a non-citizen specific voter registration affidavit for School Board elections, to include a notice on all pertinent voter materials informing non-citizens that any information provided to the Department may be obtained by the federal government, and to create other documents related to non-citizen voting in School Board elections.
- Why does the Department provide a notice to non-citizens on registration and voting materials?
Per Municipal Elections Code (MEC) §1003, the Department must include the following notice on the Voter Registration Affidavit in conspicuous type and with the words "IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR NON-UNITED STATES CITIZENS" appearing in capital letters.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR NON-UNITED STATES CITIZENS
Any information you provide to the Department of Elections, including your name and address, may be obtained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies, organizations, and individuals. In addition, if you apply for naturalization, you will be asked whether you have ever registered or voted in a federal, state, or local election in the United States. You may wish to consult with an immigration attorney, an organization that protects immigrant rights, or other knowledgeable source before providing any personal information to the Department of Elections and before registering to vote in San Francisco Board of Education Elections. You can find a list of nonprofit organizations that specialize in protecting the rights of immigrants on sfelections.org.
In addition to appearing on the Voter Registration Affidavit, the notice above will appear on all non-citizen voting and outreach materials.
The Department will translate and provide the notice in the following languages: Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Assyrian, Bengali, Burmese, Cantonese, Cebuano (Visayan), Chaozhou, Dutch, Farsi (Persian), Tagalog, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong, Hungarian, Ilocano, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer (Cambodian), Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Mien (Yao), Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Rumanian, Russian, Samoan, Serbo Croatian (Bosnian), Serbo Croatian (Croatian), Spanish, Taiwanese, Thai, Tigrinya, Toishanese, Tongan, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu and Vietnamese.
- For which School Board elections will non-citizen voting be available?
Non-citizens will be able to register and vote in the San Francisco School Board election in November 2018 and in every School Board election thereafter, scheduled every two years, through November 2022. After the November 2022 election, Proposition N’s non-citizen franchise will expire, unless the Board of Supervisors passes an ordinance specifically extending it.
- How will the Department of Elections prepare for non-citizen voting?
The Department will prepare a “Non-Citizen Voter Registration Affidavit” as well as accompanying eligibility checklist in English, Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino. This affidavit will be the sole means by which non-citizen voters can register to vote.
The Department will also produce multilingual ballots presenting only the School Board contest as well as other election materials, including voter notification cards, vote-by-mail applications, and ballot pick-up authorization forms. The Department will mail a multilingual School Board Election Booklet with information about candidates running for the Board of Education to all non-citizen voters. The booklet, along with various voter tools, will be available on the Department’s website at sfelections.org.
The Department will provide several voting options to non-citizen registrants, including voting at the City Hall Voting Center, at polling places, and by mail.
- How will the Department of Elections conduct outreach on non-citizen voting?
The Department intends to conduct outreach through community-based organizations and will collaborate with various City agencies, including the San Francisco Unified School District, to build awareness of non-citizen suffrage. To this end, the Department may employ a variety of outreach methods, including in-person voter education presentations, radio advertisements, distribution of flyers, and publication of online and newspaper notices.
Eligibility
- Will all non-citizens be eligible to register to vote in San Francisco School Board elections?
No. Non-citizens must meet several requirements before registering to vote in San Francisco School Board elections. A non-citizen registrant must be a resident of San Francisco, at least 18 years old on Election Day, and the parent, legal guardian or caregiver of a child under the age of 19 who also resides in San Francisco. Non-citizen residents imprisoned or on parole for conviction of a felony, or currently found by a court to be mentally incompetent to vote, are not eligible.
- Are non-citizens whose children are not in school eligible to register to vote in San Francisco School Board elections?
Yes. Otherwise qualified registrants caring for children who are not in school and reside in San Francisco are eligible to vote in School Board elections, provided these registrants are parents, legal guardians, or caregivers, as those terms are used in section 6550 of California Family Code, of the resident children.
- Are non-citizens, who do not reside in San Francisco themselves, but who care for children who reside or attend school in San Francisco, eligible to register to vote in San Francisco School Board elections?
No. Both the prospective voters and their children must reside in San Francisco.
- How will non-citizens determine if they are eligible to vote in School Board Elections?
As required under MEC §1004(b), the Department will provide a checklist of eligibility requirements for non-citizens on the Voter Registration Affidavit. The checklist will be available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Arabic.
Registration
- How can non-citizens register to vote in School Board elections?
Eligible non-citizens must complete a Non-Citizen Voter Registration Affidavit and return it to the Department by mail (postage paid) or in person. Once the form is processed, the Department will mail a Voter Notification Letter to the registrant, generally within two weeks, to confirm registration. The Department will also notify registrants if their information is incomplete and requires further action.
- Where can non-citizens obtain a Voter Registration Form?
A Voter Registration Form can be obtained by calling the Department at (415) 554-4375, at sfelections.org/noncitizen/registration, or in person at the Department’s office, Room 48 in City Hall.
- Will non-citizens be able to register to vote online or when visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)?
No. Currently, most residents of California can register to vote by completing the Secretary of State’s online application or when making a qualified transaction (e.g., obtaining a driver license, registering a vehicle) at the DMV. However, these applications require an attestation of U.S. citizenship, and are therefore not suitable for use by non-citizens. Non-citizens will need to use the Non-Citizen Voter Registration Affidavit developed by the Department.
- When registering to vote, will non-citizens need to provide proof of their own or their child’s residency?
No. Completion of a non-citizen Voter Registration Affidavit will serve as proof of all eligibility requirements; registrants sign this document under penalty of perjury.
- What is the deadline to register to vote in San Francisco School Board election on November 3, 2020?
The deadline to register to vote in the November 3, 2020, School Board election is fifteen days before the election, which is October 19; this deadline will apply to both non-citizen and citizen residents. Those who missed the registration deadline can visit a voting center or polling place to register and vote via a process called “conditional voter registration.”
- Will non-citizen registration remain effective for future School Board elections?
No. Eligible non-citizens must complete and provide to the Department a new Voter Registration Affidavit before every School Board election.
Voting
- How can non-citizen voters learn about School Board candidates?
The Department will produce a School Board Election Booklet in English, Chinese, Spanish and Filipino with general information about the voting process, specific information about School Board candidates, and a sample ballot. This booklet will be mailed to all registered non-citizen voters approximately one month before the election. The booklet will also be available online at sfelections.org/noncitizen/booklet.
- What voting options will be available to non-citizen registrants?
The Department will provide the same voting options to non-citizen voters as it provides to citizen voters—voting by mail or voting in person at a voting center or polling place.
- How will non-citizen voters who wish to vote by mail request a ballot?
For the November 3, 2020 election, the Department of Elections will mail ballot packets to all registered San Francisco voters. This means that non-citizen voters who wish to vote by mail simply have to complete and submit a Non-Citizen Voter Registration Application by the registration deadline, October 19, to receive a vote-by-mail ballot.
Approximately one month before the election, the Department will mail ballots presenting only the School Board contest to non-citizen voters, along with instructions on how to complete and return their ballots. Voters may mail their ballots to the Department postage paid, or return them in person to a voting center, drop-off station outside City Hall, or any polling place on Election Day. Voters may also authorize someone to return the ballot for them.
Non-citizen voters may track the status of their vote-by-mail ballots toll-free by calling (866) 325-9163 or by using the Non-Citizen Voting Information Portal.
- Will non-citizen voters have the option to vote in person?
Yes. The Department will facilitate voting for both citizen and non-citizen voters at the City Hall Voting Center throughout the 29-day voting period (October 5, 2020, to Election Day, November 3, 2020), at other voting center locations, and at all 588 polling places on Election Day.
Voters may visit any San Francisco Voting Center to register to vote, update their registration information, drop off their vote-by-mail ballots, or exchange spoiled ballots.
Any eligible resident who has missed the registration deadline may visit a Voting Center or polling place through Election Day to conditionally register and vote a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are counted after the Department confirms the voter is properly registered and has not cast another ballot.
Non-citizen voters may track the status of their vote-by-mail ballots toll-free by calling (866) 325-9163 or by using the Non-Citizen Voting Information Portal
- How will non-citizen voters find their assigned polling places?
Non-citizen voters can locate their assigned polling places by calling the Department at (415) 554-4375, going to sfelections.org/noncitizen/mypollingplace, or by checking the back cover of their School Board Election Booklet.
- Which contests will be on the ballot for non-citizen voters?
Only the School Board contest will appear on the ballot for non-citizen voters. All ballot instructions and content will appear in four languages: English, Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino.
Non-citizens are not eligible to vote for candidates in any other federal, state, district, or local contests, or to vote on federal, state, regional, or local propositions.
- Will an accessible ballot be available to non-citizen voters?
Yes. In addition to accessibility tools for paper ballots such as easy-grip pens and magnifying glasses, the Department will provide accessible touchscreen and audio versions of the ballot in English, Chinese (with both Cantonese and Mandarin audio), Spanish, and Filipino for non-citizen voters. Both paper ballot tools and accessible versions of the ballot will be available at all voting centers and polling places.
- How will non-citizens vote at the polls?
Polling place procedures for non-citizen voters will mirror those for citizen voters. Upon arrival, a poll worker will find the voter’s name and address in the roster, or list, of voters. Each roster will consist of two sections—one with records of citizen voters and another with records of non-citizen voters. After confirming name and address, the voter will be asked to sign the roster. The poll worker will then issue a secrecy folder and a ballot presenting only the School Board contest. After marking the ballot, the voter will insert it into an optical-scan voting machine for tabulation.
- Will non-citizen voters need to show ID or provide other documents when voting in person at polling places or voting centers?
No. Non-citizen voters do not need to provide ID or any other documents to vote in School Board elections.
- Will registration and voting information of non-citizens remain confidential?
No. Although voter registration information is generally confidential, under certain conditions stipulated by California Elections Code, the Department can provide some personal information, including residential addresses and voting history of non-citizen voters, to persons and agencies for bona fide election-related, scholarly, journalistic, political, or governmental purposes.
Additionally, the information on rosters (see question 23), including the names and residential addresses of non-citizen voters, are accessible to poll workers, members of the general public, election observers, and government agencies.
- Will the Department provide a letter confirming that non-citizens may vote in San Francisco?
Yes. The Department provide, upon request, a letter a) enumerating the criteria set forth in Charter §13.111(a)(1) for non-United States citizen voting in San Francisco School Board elections, and b) verifying that a certain person voted in a specific School Board election. Such letters are intended to confirm the right to vote granted to non-citizens under the San Francisco Charter and to serve as evidentiary support for naturalization application purposes.
- Will non-citizens be able to cancel their voter registration after having completed a Voter Registration Affidavit?
Yes. Non-citizens who wish to cancel their voter registration must complete and provide to the Department a Request to Cancel Voter Registration (PDF). A Request to Cancel Voter Registration Form can be obtained by calling the Department at (415) 554-4375, at sfelections.org/noncitizen/registration, or in person at the Department’s office, Room 48 in City Hall.
- Who can provide answers to specific immigration-related questions about non-citizen voting?
The Department will maintain a webpage on sfelections.org listing organizations with tax exempt status under 26 United States Code Section 9501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) whose primary mission is protecting the rights of immigrants. The Department will also create a form organizations may use to affirm that they meet these criteria.
Immigration-Related Resources
The Department of Elections can provide, upon request, a letter confirming that certain non-citizens are eligible to vote in San Francisco School Board elections. Such letter is intended to confirm the right to vote granted to non-citizens under the San Francisco Charter and to serve as evidentiary support for naturalization application purposes.
The Department of Elections produces various resources for prospective registrants that can be accessed at the links below.
- Non-Citizen Voting in the San Francisco Board of Education Election on November 3, 2020 poster (coming September 2020)
- Guide to Non-Citizen Registration and Voting in the San Francisco Board of Education Election on November 3, 2020 (coming September 2020)
The links below provide information on immigration-related matters.
San Francisco Rapid Response Network
San Francisco Immigration Support
Sanctuary City Ordinance
San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative
