Presentations on Accessible Voting at the LightHouse on May 12

The LightHouse is hosting the League of Woman Voters on May 12 at 1:00 p.m. to talk about the many state and local propositions in the upcoming election. A representative from the Department of Elections will be here at 2:00 p.m. that day to explain accessible voting options and register those who need help.

The LightHouse also has large print and Braille voting information on the Materials Resource Center shelves in the lobby at 214 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco.

For details on accessible voting, read below:

San Francisco, Your Vote is Your Voice! Make Your Voice Heard!

This June, San Francisco voters will nominate candidates for partisan offices in a statewide primary election, as well as vote on 5 state and 7 local ballot measures. Your vote is your voice. Register, get informed and make your voice be heard.

•    Early voting begins May 10 on the ground floor of City Hall.
•    The last day to register to vote is May 24. If you have moved, changed your name or would like to change your party affiliation, you must re-register to vote.
•    The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is June 1.

Primary Elections and Party Affiliation Information

In a primary election, voters from each political party nominate candidates from their party to run in the November general election. California has a modified closed primary system. This means that if you registered with a qualified political party, you may vote only for candidates from that party in partisan contests (e.g., Governor, U.S. Senate).

If you did not register with a qualified political party, you may vote in partisan contests if a party allows unaffiliated voters to participate. For the June 8, 2010 primary election, two political parties allow unaffiliated voters to vote on their party’s ballot for all contests except County Central Committee:

•    The Democratic Party
•    The Republican Party

All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in nonpartisan contests (e.g., Superintendent of Public Instruction, Superior Court Judge) and on ballot measures.

Your Polling Place May Have Changed

The location of your polling place may have changed since the last time you voted, so check before going to the polls to vote. To find the location of your polling place:
•    Visit sfelections.org
•    Look on the back cover of your Voter Information Pamphlet
•    Call the Department of Elections at (415) 554-4375

Large Print and Audio Format Voter Information

To better assist voters with visual impairments, the Department of Elections offers the Voter Information Pamphlet and Voter Information Guide in large print and audio formats. Large print materials are available in English, Chinese and Spanish, and audiocassettes are available in English only. If you would like to receive large print or audiocassette voter information, please call (415) 554-4375.

The Department of Elections maintains a list of voters who automatically receive a large print or audio format Voter Information Pamphlet before every election. If you would like to be on this list, please let us know.

Edge Voting Machine

For every election, each polling place has one accessible voting machine called the “Edge” that allows voters with disabilities to vote independently and privately. With the Edge, you can vote using either a touchscreen or audio ballot. If you would like to use the Edge on Election Day, please tell a poll worker. The Edge voting machine is also available during early voting in City Hall.

For more information on the upcoming election, please call (415) 554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org