Prior to each election, the Department invites representatives from campaigns, political parties, the Civil Grand Jury, the League of Women Voters, other committees and organizations, members of the media, and interested members of the public to join the Official Observer Panel.

The Department hosts an introductory meeting approximately one month before each election to provide an opportunity for panelists to learn about the Department, learn more about the observation process, and learn about mechanisms for providing feedback to the Department on election processes and procedures.

To serve on the Official Observer Panel, please complete and submit the Observer Panel Application (PDF). Once we receive your application, we will send you more information and an official invitation to join the Panel.

Before each election, the Department prepares a schedule to show when, where, and how members of the public can observe specific election activities.

Special Election

Special Election
Activity	Details	Time	Location
Special Tax District Nos. 2019-1 and 2019-2 (Pier 70 Leased Properties)	Link to  Video recording	Monday, January 27, 9 am	City Hall, Rm 48

Calendar of Observable Activities
November 3, 2020, Consolidated General Election

Before Election Day
Activity	Details	Time	Location
Ballot Measure Letter Designation	The Department of Elections designates letters for local ballot measures	August 10, 11 a.m.	City Hall, Rm 48
Randomized Alphabet Drawing	The Secretary of State shall conduct the randomized alphabet drawing to determine the order in which the candidates will appear on the ballot. The Department of Elections shall conduct the randomized alphabet drawing for offices of State Senate District 11, State Assembly District 19, and Congressional District 14. The county-drawn alphabet shall be used only to arrange the names of candidates when a district includes more than one county.	August 13, 11 a.m.	City Hall, Rm 48
Selection of Opponents’ Arguments	If the Department receives more than one opponent argument for a measure, the Department will select one proponent and one opponent argument according to priority levels and, if necessary, by lottery.	August 13, 2 p.m.	City Hall, Rm 48
Selection of Proponents’ Arguments	If the Department receives more than one opponent argument for a measure, the Department will select one proponent and one opponent argument according to priority levels and, if necessary, by lottery.	August 18, 2 p.m.	City Hall, Rm 48
Voter Outreach Presentations	Contact Matthew Selby (415) 554-4376 for details, time, and location
Logic and Accuracy Testing
	ImageCast X Ballot-Marking Devices	September 18 – September 28, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.	Warehouse, Pier 31
	ImageCast Evolution Ballot-Scanning Machines	September 29 – October 7, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.	Warehouse, Pier 31
	IImageCast Central (ICC) Scanners and other media devices	September 18–October 9, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.	Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Poll Worker and Field Support Training	Contact Matthew Selby (415) 554-4376 for details, time, and location
Voting Center	Any voter may vote at the City Hall Voting Center beginning 29 days before the election	October 5– November 3, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. October 24–25 and October 31– November 1,  10 a.m.–4 p.m.	In front of Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Grove Street
Open House	During the Open House, attendees are invited to tour the Department’s office and learn about processes that take place before, on, and after Election Day in support of the election	TBD	City Hall, Rm 48
Vote-by-Mail Ballot Processing
	Sorting, scanning, and verifying signatures on the vote-by-mail envelopes in preparation for ballot counting (Streamed on sfelections.org/live)	As early as September 22, after transmission of ballots to military and overseas voters, until complete	Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
	Opening of vote-by-mail ballot envelopes, ballot extraction, ballot counting in preparation for tabulation (Streamed on sfelections.org/live)	October 12 until complete	Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
	For activity on a specific day, contact Matthew Selby (415) 554-4376.
Ballot Adjudication and Remake	When ballots contain valid votes, even in cases in which a ballot has been irregularly marked, are torn, bent, or otherwise damaged and unreadable, the Department reviews and adjudicates these ballots. When necessary, ballot remake is conducted.	October 12 until complete	Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Mock Election Day Support Center	The practice of logging and resolving inquiries and issues in a simulated environment similar to Election Day (Streamed on sfelections.org/live)	November 1,  10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	City Hall, North Light Court

On Election Day
Activity	Details	Time	Location
Voting Centers/ Polling Places	Check sfelections.org for polling place locations	Voting Center and polls are open from 7 a.m.– 8 p.m. on Election Day	City-wide
Election Day Support Center	Provides support to poll workers and dispatches in-person assistance to polling places when needed	5:30 a.m. to approximately midnight	City Hall, North Light Court
Processing Center	Receives voted ballots, rosters and other materials from polling places	Begins after 8 p.m. and continues until all polling place materials have been received	Warehouse at Pier 31
Data Collection Center	Receives memory cards from polling places	Begins after 8 p.m. and continues until all polling place memory devices have been received	Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Election Night Results Reporting	Results are displayed on a large monitor on Election Night. Results are also available at: sfelections.org, San Francisco Government Television – SFGTV, Channel 26, Department’s Office	First preliminary results released at approximately 8:45 p.m. with updates released at approximately 9:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.	City Hall, North Light Court

After Election Day
Activity	Details	Time	Location
Processing and Tabulation	Ballots include vote-by-mail ballots that voters dropped off at the polling places or the City Hall drop-off stations, or that the Department received in the mail within 17 days of Election Day; vote-by-mail ballots that were remedied by voters up to two days prior to the certification of the election; provisional ballots; and ballots with write-in votes. For activity on a specific day, contact Matthew Selby (415) 554-4376 (Streamed on sfelections.org/live)	Continues until all ballots have been counted and the results are certified	Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Results Reporting after Election Night	The Department posts updated results online on any day ballots are tabulated	Daily at approximately 4 p.m.	sfelections.org
Canvass	An internal audit of the election to ensure the accuracy of results	TBD	Warehouse at Pier 31
1% Manual Tally	Random selection of precincts for manual tally	TBD	City Hall,Rm 48
Manual tally	Manual tally of 1% of ballots cast	TBD	Department warehouse, Pier 31 (public parking unavailable inside warehouse)