Department of Elections Room 48 San Francisco, CA 94102-4634 Phone: (415) 554-4375 Fax: (415) 554-7344
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One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Department Of Elections Room 48 San Francisco, CA 94102-4634 Phone: (415) 554-4375 Fax: (415) 554-7344 September 12, 2002 Dear Voter: The Department of Elections encourages all voters to review the location of their polling places. Even more than usual, voters may discover that their voting location changed for this Consolidated General Election. The Department needed to adjust the boundary lines for a large number of precincts in response to adjustments made to the supervisory district lines. To confirm your voting location, look on the back page of this voter guide. You will find the address and precinct number for your polling place. If you have any questions, you can call the Department of Elections' voter informa- tion phone bank at 554-4375 and one of our staff will tell you the location of your polling place. Early voting is available at the Department of Elections in the basement of City Hall beginning Monday, October 7th from 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Early voting is also available on the following weekends: October 26th & 27th and November 2nd & 3rd, from 10:00am-4:00pm. Respectfully, John Arntz Acting Director Department of Elections 2 Elections Commission he Elections Commission assumes policy-making T authority and oversight of all public federal, state, dis- Michael Mendelson, President trict and municipal elections in the City and County of appointed by the District Attorney San Francisco. The Commission is charged with setting Alix Rosenthal, Vice President general policies for the Department of Elections and is appointed by the Public Defender responsible for the proper administration of the Department Robert Kenealey subject to budgetary and fiscal Charter provisions. appointed by the City Attorney Thomas Schulz appointed by the Board of Supervisors Richard Shadoian appointed by the Board of Education Brenda Stowers appointed by the City Treasurer Ballot Simplification Committee he Ballot Simplification Committee prepares T summaries (“The Way It Is Now,” “The Proposal,” John M. Odell, Committee Chair “A Yes Vote Means,” and “A No Vote Means”) of National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, measures placed on the ballot each election. The Northern California Chapter Committee also prepares a table of contents, an index of Allyson Washburn candidates and measures, a brief explanation of the ballot League of Women Voters pamphlet, definitions of terms in the pamphlet, a summary Betty J. Packard of voters’ basic rights, and a statement as to the term, com- Northern California Broadcasters Association Diane Ollis pensation and duties of each local elective office. Northern California Newspaper Guild Julia Moll, Ex officio Deputy City Attorney John Arntz, Ex officio Interim Director of Elections PURPOSE OF THE VOTER INFORMATION PAMPHLET This Voter Information Pamphlet provides voters with information about the November 5, 2002 Consolidated General Election. The pamphlet includes: Page 1. A Sample Ballot (a copy of the ballot you will see at your polling place or when you vote by mail) . P-1 2. The location of your polling place . .(see the label on the Back Cover) 3. An application for an Absentee (Vote-by-Mail) Ballot and for permanent absentee voter status . .(Back Cover) 4. Your rights as a voter . .4 5. Information for disabled voters . 5 6. Definitions of the words you need to know . .P-23 7. Information about each local ballot measure, including a summary, how the proposition got on the ballot, the Controller’s Statement, arguments for and against the measure, and the legal text . begins on P-26 Mail Delivery of Voter Pamphlets The San Francisco Voter Information Pamphlet and If you registered to vote or changed your registration after Sample Ballot is scheduled to be mailed at the beginning of September 3, and before October 8, your Voter Information October. If you registered to vote on or before September 3, Pamphlet will be mailed after October 15. 2002 you should receive your Voter Information Pamphlet If you do not receive your Voter Information Pamphlet in a by the middle of October. timely manner, please notify your local Post Office. 3 Your Rights as a Voter by the Ballot Simplification Committee Q — Who can vote? Q — If I don’t know what to do when I get to my polling A — U.S. citizens, 18 years or older, who are registered to place, is there someone there to help me? vote in San Francisco on or before October 21, 2002. A — Yes, the poll workers at the polling place will help you. Q — My 18th birthday is after October 21, 2002 but on Q — Can I take my sample ballot or my own written list or before November 5. May I vote in the November 5 into the voting booth? election? A — Yes. Deciding your votes before you get to the polls A — Yes, if your 18th birthday is on or before November 5, will help. You can locate your sample ballot inside this voter but after October 21, you can register to vote on or before pamphlet. October 21 and vote November 5 — even though you were not 18 at the time you registered to vote. Q — Is there any way to vote instead of going to the polling place on Election Day? Q — If I was arrested or convicted of a crime, can I still A — Yes, you can vote before November 5 if you: vote? Fill out and mail the Absentee Ballot A — You can vote as long as you are application printed on the back cover not in prison or on parole for a felony of this book. Within three days after conviction. You must be registered to we receive your request, a vote-by- vote. mail ballot will be sent to you. Your request must be received by the Q — I have just become a U.S. citi- Department of Elections no later than zen. Can I vote in the November 5 Q — Who can vote? 5 pm on October 29, 2002; election? A — If you became a U.S. citizen on A — U.S. citizens, OR or before October 21, you may vote in the election, but you must register to 18 years or older, who Go to the Office of the Department vote by October 21. are registered to vote in of Elections at City Hall, One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 48, OR San Francisco on or from October 7 through November 5. The office hours are: from 8 a.m. to 5 If you became a U.S. citizen before October 21, 2002. p.m., Monday through Friday; from 10 after October 21, but on or before a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday October 29, you may register and starting October 26-27 and November vote at the Department of Elections 2-3; and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on office with proof of citizenship and Election Day, November 5. proof of San Francisco residency. Q — If I don’t use an application Q — I have moved within the county but have not re- form, can I get an Absentee Ballot some other way? registered. Can I vote in this election? A — You can send a note, preferably on a postcard, to the A — Yes, but you must go to your new polling place and Department of Elections asking for a ballot. This note must show proof of current residence. include: your printed home address, the address where you want the ballot mailed, your birthdate, your printed name Q — When do I vote? and your signature. Mail your request or fax it to (415) 554- A — Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2002. Your 4372. Your request must be received by the Department of polling place will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Elections no later than 5 pm on October 29, 2002. Q — Where do I go to vote? A — Go to your polling place. The address is on the back cover of this book. Q — What do I do if my polling place is not open? A — Check the label on the back of this book to make sure you have gone to the right place. Polling places often change. If you are at the right place, call the Department of Elections at 554-4375 to let them know the polling place is not open. 4 12 9 3 Early Voting 6 (In person or by mail) EARLY VOTING IN PERSON EARLY VOTING BY MAIL Office hours for early voting are as follows: Any voter may request an absentee ballot. You can request a • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning ballot by mail, using the application form provided on the back of October 7 at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, this pamphlet. You may also request a ballot by sending a short Room 48; note or postcard to the Department of Elections. When making • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday starting such a request, remember to include your home address, the address to which you want the ballot mailed, your birthdate, October 26-27 and November 2-3; name and signature. Your signature must be included! (Mail • 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 5 at City your request or fax it to (415) 554-4372). This must be received Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 48. by the Department of Elections before 5 p.m. on October 29, 2002. NOTE: You no longer need a reason such as illness or travel to qualify to cast your ballot prior to Election Day.