In light of recent events, the Department will provide an online program, through which poll workers can safely acquire necessary knowledge from home.

To accommodate poll workers who may not have computer or internet access, we will designate days when poll workers may complete training at the Department’s Office in City Hall. Please call us at (415) 554-4395 to schedule a time to complete this training in City Hall.

The mandatory online training will cover 1) the rights of voters and language and accessibility resources, 2) proper setup and operation of voting equipment, 3) processing of voters, including standard, vote-by-mail, and provisional voters, 4) ballot-scanning machine procedures, including how to use the Guide to Messages on the Ballot-Scanning Machine, 5) custody procedures for voted ballots and other election materials, 6) new health and safety procedures, and other essential topics.

You will have access to the online training, as well as the optional bilingual assessment a month before the Election Day, by logging into your Poll Worker Profile.

In addition to online training, those who believe they would benefit from voting equipment practice will have the opportunity to attend small group hands-on training sessions at City Hall.

The Poll Worker Training Manual (PDF) for the November 8, 2022, Election is now available.

The Manual is designed to help you fulfill your mission, to efficiently carry out your duties, and to provide excellent service to voters. We encourage you to review the Manual more than once.

We encourage all poll workers to review all of the following videos as a supplement to their training.

Opening Videos

•  Turning on the BSM
•  Unpacking and setting up BMD
•  Opening the polls on the BMD
•  Lockout Video
•  Voting Booth Set Up

Voting Videos

•  Issuing a Standard Ballot
•  Voter with ID Required Note
•  Voter with VBM Received note
•  Voter Not Listed in the Roster
•  Voter wants to drop off their ballot
•  Assisting a voter at the BMD
•  Curbside Voting
•  Ballot Scanning Machine Clerk Cards are accepted
•  Ballot Scanning Machine Clerk Cards not accepted
•  Electioneering
•  Ranked Choice Voting

Closing videos

•  Closing the polls on the BSM
•  Closing the polls on the BMD

Poll Worker Newsletters are developed to help us stay connected with our poll workers throughout the year. These newsletters pave the way to share updates, highlight new election laws, and more.

• Summer 2020 - Thank You (PDF)
• Summer 2018 - Thank You (PDF)
• Spring 2018 – Spring has Sprung (PDF)
• Fall 2017– Welcome Fall! (PDF)
• Summer 2017 – Summer Ready! (PDF)
• Spring 2017 – Hello Spring! (PDF)
• Winter 2016 – Thank You! (PDF)
• Fall 2016 – Mark your calendar (PDF)
• Summer 2016 – Thank You! (PDF)
• Spring 2016 – Greetings (PDF)
• Winter 2015 – Poll Worker Stats (PDF)

Your dedication makes Election Day possible for San Francisco voters and your feedback is very important to us.

To submit feedback about serving as an Inspector, please click here (available after Election Day).

To submit feedback about serving as a Clerk, please click here (available after Election Day).