San Francisco voter guide to the 2024 general election
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Mail-in ballots will be arriving soon, and we've put together a guide to help you stay informed ahead of Election Day.
Why it matters: Although the presidential race is pretty much locked in for left-leaning California, there are plenty of hotly contested propositions and local races to watch.
How to vote
💌 The last day to register to vote and receive a ballot by mail is Oct. 21.
- In California, ballots are mailed to voters no later than 29 days before Election Day, so you should be getting them soon.
- Starting Oct. 7, you can drop your ballot off in person at the City Hall Voting Center, an official ballot drop box across the city or at a polling place by 8pm on Election Day. You can also return your ballot by mail as long as it's postmarked on or by Nov. 5.
- The voting center will be open 8am-5pm on weekdays, 7am-8pm on Nov. 5 and 10am-4pm during the weekends of Oct. 26-27 and Nov. 2-3.
🗳️ To vote in person, find your nearest polling place.
- Polls will be open 7am–8pm on Nov. 5.
- As long as you're in line by 8pm, you'll be able to cast your vote.
We've broken down some of the top races and ballot measures and will update this page leading up to Election Day.
Mayor
The mayoral race is expected to be the most closely watched here this election cycle.
- Mayor London Breed is up for re-election, but she faces a formidable slate of challengers as San Francisco grapples with a bevy of issues, including a drug overdose epidemic, a homelessness crisis, the need to build more housing and a struggling downtown.
Go deeper: Meet SF's leading mayoral candidates
District attorney
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins faces one challenger in her re-election bid: Alameda County prosecutor Ryan Khojasteh, whom Jenkins fired as part of an administration change after inheriting the office from Chesa Boudin.
Go deeper: Here's what to know about the contest
Supervisors
Supervisor seats for odd-numbered districts are up for election this year. Check out our primer for each race below.
- District 1: Supervisor Connie Chan faces four challengers.
- District 3: Six candidates are running to succeed incumbent Aaron Peskin, who is termed out.
- District 5: Supervisor Dean Preston faces four people as he seeks a second full term in office.
- District 7: Supervisor Myrna Melgar is facing formidable opposition from small business owner Matt Boschetto.
- District 9: Seven candidates are running to succeed Hillary Ronen, who is termed out.
- District 11: Seven candidates are running to succeed outgoing Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, who is aiming for mayor.
Propositions
San Franciscans will vote on 15 local ballot measures and 10 state ballot measures on Nov. 5.
- That includes propositions to approve a school improvement bond, create an inspector general position, improve police staffing and make it easier for local governments to fund housing projects.
Pro tip: Bookmark this page ahead of Nov. 5 to stay up to date on the key issues driving San Francisco's elections.