In the last two elections no more than 30 percent of San Francisco’s population cast a ballot. From the looks of this map of voter turnout in the June 2014 primaries by the Department of Elections, it was likely even fewer people in the Mission. Given that there’s no big presidential election (which garnered 73 percent turnout in 2012) many predict that turnout numbers will be pretty grim this year as well.
Oh yeah, for those who don’t already know from the stacks and stacks of mailers you’ve no doubt received on your doorsteps, there’s an election Tuesday, November 4. Consider this our challenge to you: let’s get those turnout numbers up.
Besides a heated race between Mission Supervisor David Campos and his colleague on the Board of Supervisor David Chiu, many a vital issue will get hashed out on this ballot. On the local level alone, there’s a soda tax, a measure curbing real estate speculation, proposed minimum wage increases, and competing soccer fields initiatives—it’s enough hot topics to get one’s blood boiling and pulse quickening.
We know these matters matter to you, so we highly encourage you to go vote today. We also know, people need a lot of reminding to get things done, so for those of you who this is old news, we’re not sorry for bugging you again.
Here’s how
To figure out your plan for Election Day now, the Department of Elections has this handy elections toolkit which has some useful information about how and when to vote.
Polls open 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.. Remember, you can’t get fired for voting.
You can find your polling place here … And if you’re in a cheeky mood this ridiculous site offers a slightly NSFW version of the same service (though, data may not be complete).
If you have already sent your ballot in you can track its progress here.
Guide to guides
There’s so much information about the upcoming election it’s pretty overwhelming. To guide you through the smorgasbord of election guides and endorsements, we offer this brief meta guide.
For a good rundown of statewide initiatives and races. KQED offers an election guide sans endorsement with the basics, in-depth analysis, and charts tracking campaign spending.
For San Francisco endorsements, let us offer many sides to every issue.
To get multiple perspectives on issues related to housing. There’s the San Francisco Tenants Union’s endorsements and development think tanks SPUR has a detailed one with endorsements.
There’s the always-aggrieved, Pissed Off Voters Guide and the final rallying cry of the lefty, dearly-departed Bay Guardian.
More good reading
If you’ve got time on your hand and want more long reads, we’ve been enjoying this series from San Francisco Magazine about the players behind the scenes of various initiatives and campaigns.
Here’s our picks for some of Mission Local’s best election related coverage:
Mission Businesses Worry Less About a Minimum Wage and More About Finding Employees
What they were Chatting About at Housing Protest
The Soda Tax Debate
Campos and Chiu on Offense in Tight Assembly Race
Door to Door with Campos Campaign
Okay, off to the polls.
Homeowners should only be allowed to vote in my opinion. You do not have to agree, just my opinion. This will bring equality for all.
homeowners only? why stop there, maybe it should be whites only too.
I already mailed in my ballot. It’s really sad how many adults are moving to SF every year and many either don’t care about this or even registered here to vote yet.