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.

Calendar of Observable Activities
November 3, 2020, General Election

Before Election Day
Activity	Details	Time	Location
Ballot Measure Letter Designation	The Department of Elections designates letters for local ballot measures	-	City Hall, Rm 48

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

March 3, 2020, Consolidated Presidential Primary Election

Before Election Day
Activity	Details	Time	Location
Ballot Measure Letter Designation	The Department of Elections designates letters for local ballot measures	December 9, 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. Video recording	December 12, 11 a.m.	City Hall, Rm 48
Selection of Proponents’ and Opponents’ Arguments	If the Department receives more than one proponent or opponent argument for a measure, the Department will select one proponent and one opponent argument according to priority levels and, if necessary, by lottery. Video recording angle 1 Video recording angle 2	December 12, 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	January 24 - February 3, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.	City Hall, Room 48
	ImageCast Evolution Ballot-Scanning Machines	February 3 - February 14, Monday thru Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Warehouse, Pier 31
	ImageCast X Ballot-Marking Devices	January 24 – January 31, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.	Warehouse, Pier 31
Poll Worker & 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	February 3 – March 3, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. February 22–23 and February 29– March 1, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.	City Hall, in front of Room 48
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 - Live Stream	As early as January 20, after transmission of ballots to military and overseas voters, until complete	City Hall, Rm 48
	Opening of vote-by-mail ballot envelopes, ballot extraction, ballot counting in preparation for tabulation - Live Stream	February 18 until complete	City Hall, Rm 48
	For activity on a specific day, contact Matthew Selby (415) 554-4376
Ballot Adjudication & 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.	February 18 until complete	City Hall, Rm 48
Voting Center	Any voter may vote at the Voting Centers, located at the San Francisco State University and Joseph Lee Recreation Center, beginning 3 days before the election	February 29 – March 1, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. March 2, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. March 3, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	San Francisco State University Towers Conference Center, 798 State Drive Joseph Lee Rec. Ctr 1395 Mendell Street
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)	February 29, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.	Rm adjacent to the City Hall café

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	Rm adjacent to City Hall café
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	City Hall, McAllister St. entrance
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
Ballot Processing and Tabulation - Live Stream	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 three days of Election Day; vote-by-mail ballots that were remedied by voters within eight days of the election; provisional ballots; and ballots with write-in votes. For activity on a specific day, contact Matthew Selby (415) 554-4376	Continues until all ballots have been counted and the results are certified	City Hall, Rm 48
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	March 5, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. beginning beginning March 6, 8 a.m.– 5 p.m. daily except Sundays and holidays	Warehouse at Pier 31
1% Manual Tally	Random selection of precincts for manual tally Video recording angle 1 Video recording angle 2	March 12, 11 a.m.	City Hall,Rm 48
Manual tally	Manual tally of 1% of ballots cast	March 13, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. March 14, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., if necessary	Department warehouse, Pier 31 (public parking unavailable inside warehouse)