California's deadline for voter registration online or postmarked is October 19. Do it today at https://registertovote.ca.gov. You can also same-day register in person while voting at a polling location.
In
San Francisco, early voting started in front of Bill Graham Civic
Auditorium (99 Grove St). Polling center hours are 8am-5pm weekdays, as
well as 10am-4pm for the two weekends prior to Election Day. You can
check your polling location or wait time at https://sfelections.org/tools/
Election
Day is November 3... less than three weeks away! Polls will be open
7am-8pm. As long as you are in line at 8pm, you will be permitted to
vote. You can drop off your mail-in ballot at any polling location
within your registered county. A mailed ballot must be postmarked by
Election Day for it to be countable.
The State
ballot is long. The SF and CA election books are over 300 pages
combined! Besides the presidential and House races, there are 12
California propositions, 1 Bay Area measure, and 12 SF propositions. Six
of 11 SF Supervisor districts, half of State Senate districts, all
State Assembly districts, and other local positions are up for a vote.
- 12 State Measures -
Proposition 14: Stem Cell Research
Authorize $5.5 billion in bonds to continue funding for stem cell research.
YES:
CA Democratic Party; Gov. Gavin Newsom; Rep. Nancy Pelosi; State Sen.
Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu; SF Mayor London Breed; Bay Area
Reporter; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; Equality CA;
SF AIDS Foundation;
SF Chamber of Commerce; United Auto Workers
NO: CA
Republican Party; CA Green Party; CA Libertarian Party; CA Peace and
Freedom Party; SF Chronicle; LA Times; OC Register; SF Bay Guardian; CA
Nurses; SPUR
Proposition 15: Commercial Property Tax Increase
Adjust most commercial property tax rates to current market value, instead of purchase price, to help fund education.
YES:
CA Democratic Party;
CA Green Party;
CA Peace and Freedom Party;
Gov. Gavin Newsom;
Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden; VT Sen. Bernie Sanders;
Mayor London Breed; SF Chronicle; LA Times;
Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian; CA Nurses; CA Teachers; Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative; SEIU CA; Sierra Club; SPUR
NO:
CA Republican Party;
CA Libertarian Party; former Gov. Pete Wilson; OC Register;
CA American Legion;
CA Chamber of Commerce;
CA Craft Brewers Association;
CA Farm Bureau Federation; Public Storage; SF Chinatown Merchants Association
Proposition 16: Affirmative Action
Repeal Proposition 209 (1996) to allow race, sex, and ethnicity as factors for public schools, employment, or contracts.
YES:
CA Democratic Party;
CA Green Party;
CA Peace and Freedom Party;
Gov. Gavin Newsom; Sen. Kamala Harris; Sen. Dianne Feinstein; Rep. Nancy
Pelosi; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu; SF Mayor London
Breed; LA Mayor Eric Garcetti; former Presidential candidates Pete
Buttigieg and Tom Steyer;
SF Chronicle; LA Times; San Jose Mercury News; Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian;
ACLU; CA Teachers; Equality CA; Golden State Warriors; Kaiser
Permanente; Japanese American Citizens League; PG&E; SEIU CA;
SF Chamber of Commerce; SPUR
NO:
CA Republican Party;
CA Libertarian Party; former UC Regent Ward Connerly; OC Register; Wall Street Journal; Asian-American Coalition for Education
Proposition 17: Voter Registration for Paroled
Amend State Constitution to permit those on state parole to register to vote.
YES:
CA Democratic Party;
CA Green Party;
CA Libertarian Party;
CA Peace and Freedom Party;
Gov. Gavin Newsom;
SF Chronicle;
LA Times; OC Register; Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian; ACLU; CA Nurses; Sierra Club; SPUR
NO:
CA Republican Party; Crime Victims United
Proposition 18: 17-Year-Old Voters in Primary
Amend State Constitution to permit 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the general election to vote in the primary.
YES:
CA Democratic Party;
CA Green Party;
CA Libertarian Party;
CA Peace and Freedom Party;
Gov. Gavin Newsom;
SF Chronicle;
LA Times; Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian; CA Nurses;
SF Bike Coalition;
SPUR
NO:
CA Republican Party; San Jose Mercury News; OC Register
Proposition 19: Homeowner Property Tax Adjustment
Permit
certain homeowners to transfer their original home's property tax base
value to a replacement home, and adjust tax benefits on property
transfers.
YES: CA Democratic Party; Gov. Gavin Newsom; State Sen. Scott Wiener;
Bay Area Reporter;
San Diego Union-Tribune; CA Firefighters; CA Nurses; CA Realtors; SPUR
NO:
CA Libertarian Party;
SF Chronicle; LA Times; OC Register; San Jose Mercury News; SF Bay Guardian
Proposition 20: Tougher Criminal Penalties
Limit parole access, authorize felony charges for certain theft misdemeanors, and require DNA samples for certain misdemeanors.
YES:
CA Republican Party;
State Asm. Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove); San Diego Union-Tribune; Albertsons Safeway; CA Correctional Peace Officers
NO: CA Democratic Party;
CA Green Party;
CA Libertarian Party;
CA Peace and Freedom Party;
SF Chronicle;
LA Times; OC Register; Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian; ACLU; CA Nurses; CA Teachers; Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative; SEIU CA; SPUR
Proposition 21: Rent Control Expansion
Permit local governments to establish rent control on older properties.
YES: CA Democratic Party; CA Green Party;
CA Peace and Freedom Party;
VT Sen. Bernie Sanders; Rep. Barbara Lee; State Asm. David Chiu;
LA Times; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian;
ACLU; AIDS Healthcare Foundation; CA Nurses; SEIU CA; Sierra Club
NO:
CA Republican Party;
CA Libertarian Party;
Gov. Gavin Newsom; SF Chronicle; OC Register; San Jose Mercury News;
Avalonbay Communities; CA Builders Alliance; CA Chamber of Commerce; CA
Electrical Workers; CA Veterans of Foreign Wars;
NAACP;
SPUR
Proposition 22: Exemption for App-Based Transportation Companies
Overturn
State law to classify drivers for app-based rideshare and delivery
companies as independent contractors with certain benefits.
YES:
CA Republican Party;
CA Libertarian Party;
SF Chronicle; OC Register; San Jose Mercury News; CA Chamber of Commerce; CA Police Officers; DoorDash; Lyft; Postmates; Uber;
Mothers Against Drunk Driving; NAACP; Nisei Farmers League
NO:
CA Democratic Party;
CA Green Party;
CA Peace and Freedom Party; former Vice President Joe Biden; Sen. Kamala
Harris; MA Sen. Elizabeth Warren; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm.
David Chiu;
LA Times; NY Times; Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian; CA Nurses;
CA Teachers;
SEIU;
Sierra Club;
SF Bike Coalition; SPUR
Proposition 23: Kidney Dialysis Regulation
Add regulations to the operation of outpatient kidney dialysis clinics.
YES: CA Democratic Party;
CA Green Party;
CA Peace and Freedom Party; SEIU
NO:
CA Republican Party;
CA Libertarian Party;
SF Chronicle;
LA Times; OC Register; San Jose Mercury News; Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian; CA Chamber of Commerce; CA Medical Association; CA Veterans of Foreign Wars; DaVita; SPUR
Proposition 24: Consumer Privacy Laws
Change the regulation of consumer personal information.YES:
CA Peace and Freedom Party;
State Controller Betty Yee; State Asm. David Chiu; former Presidential candidate Andrew Yang; LA Times; CA Firefighters; NAACP
NO:
CA Republican Party;
CA Green Party;
CA Libertarian Party;
SF Chronicle; OC Register;
San Jose Mercury News;
Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; ACLU; CA Nurses; LA Chamber of Commerce
Proposition 25: Replacement of Money Bail System
Replace money bail system with one based on flight risk and public safety.
YES:
CA Democratic Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; Gov. Gavin Newsom;
Rep. Barbara Lee; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Assm. David Chiu;
Clippers' owner Steve Ballmer; SF Chronicle; LA Times; OC Register;
San Jose Mercury News;
Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian; CA Federation of Teachers; CA Nurses; SEIU CA; Sierra
Club; SPUR
NO:
CA Republican Party;
CA Green Party;
Aladdin Bail Bonds; CA Peace Officers; NAACP
1 Regional Measure:
Measure RR: Caltrain Sales Tax
Increase
sales taxes in Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties by
0.125% to preserve and expand Caltrain service. Requires 2/3 vote to
pass.
YES: SF Democratic Party; Sen. Dianne Feinstein;
State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting; Mayor
London Breed; San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo; SF Chronicle; San Jose
Mercury News;
Bay Area Reporter;
SF Chamber of Commerce; SF Bike Coalition; SF Giants;
Sierra Club;
SPUR
NO: SF Green Party
12 Local Measures:
Proposition A: Quality of Life
Issue
$487.5 billion in bonds to fund mental health facilities, supportive
housing, parks, streets, and plazas. Requires 2/3 vote to pass.
YES:
SF Democratic Party; Sen. Dianne Feinstein; Rep. Nancy Pelosi; State
Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting; Mayor London
Breed; all 11 Board of Supervisors; SF Chronicle; Bay Area Reporter; SF
Bay Guardian; Sing Tao Daily;
Boys & Girls Clubs SF;
SF Bike Coalition;
SF Chamber of Commerce; Sierra Club; SPUR; Walk SF
NO: SF Republican Party;
SF Green Party;
SF Libertarian Party
Proposition B: Department of Sanitation and Streets
Shift
some Department of Public Works duties, such as cleaning sidewalks and
maintaining public restrooms, to a new Department of Sanitation and
Streets. Create two new commissions to oversee both departments.
YES: SF Democratic Party;
SF Green Party;
District Attorney Chesa Boudin;
Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian;
SEIU 1021;
SF Bike Coalition; Sierra Club
NO: SF Republican Party;
SF Libertarian Party;
SF Chronicle; SPUR
Proposition C: Removal of Citizenship Requirement for City Commissions
Remove requirement for citizenship and voter registration to serve on SF commissions, boards, and advisory bodies.
YES: SF Democratic Party;
SF Green Party;
SF Libertarian Party;
Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian;
La Raza Community Resource Center;
SF Bike Coalition; SPUR
NO: SF Republican Party; SF Chronicle
Proposition D: Sheriff Oversight
Create
new Office of Inspector General and Oversight Board to monitor,
investigate, and provide recommendations for changes in the Sheriff's
Department.
YES: SF Democratic Party;
SF Green Party;
SF Libertarian Party;
State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu; District Attorney Chesa Boudin; SF Chronicle;
Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021; SF Bike Coalition; SPUR
NO:
SF Republican Party
Proposition E: Police Staffing
Remove minimum SFPD staffing requirements in place since 1994.
YES:
SF Democratic Party;
SF Libertarian Party; SF Chronicle;
Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021; SF Bike Coalition;
Sierra Club;
SPUR
NO: SF Republican Party;
SF Green Party
Proposition F: Business Tax Overhaul
Alter
business taxes, including the elimination of the payroll expense tax
and an increase in the gross receipts tax rate for larger businesses.
YES:
SF Democratic Party;
SF Green Party;
Mayor London Breed; all 11 Board of Supervisors; SF Chronicle;
Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian;
Glide Foundation;
SEIU 1021;
SF Bike Coalition;
Sierra Club; SPUR
NO: SF Libertarian Party; SF Chamber of Commerce
Proposition G: Youth Voting in Local Elections
Lower the age for U.S. citizens voting on local candidates and ballot measures to 16.
YES:
SF Democratic Party;
SF Green Party;
Mayor London Breed;
Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021; SF Bike Coalition; SPUR
NO: SF Republican Party; SF Chronicle
Proposition H: Neighborhood Commercial Districts
Increase and speed up implementation of permissible uses in Planning Code.
YES:
SF Democratic Party; SF Republican Party;
SF Libertarian Party;
State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting; Mayor
London Breed; SF Chronicle; Bay Area Reporter; Sing Tao Daily; Golden
Gate Restaurant Association; SF Bike Coalition;
SF Chamber of Commerce;
SPUR
NO:
SF Green Party;
SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021
Proposition I: Real Estate Transfer Tax
Increase transfer taxes on the sale or lease of long-term real estate valued at least $10 million.
YES: SF Democratic Party;
SF Green Party;
State Asm. Phil Ting;
Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian; SEIU 1021;
Sierra Club;
SF Bike Coalition; SF Tenants Union
NO:
SF Republican Party;
SF Libertarian Party;
SF Chronicle; Golden Gate Restaurant Association;
SF Chamber of Commerce;
SF Firefighters; SPUR; Vanguard Property Management
Proposition J: Parcel Tax
Lower annual parcel tax, but expand to include those aged 65 or older, for spending on SFUSD. Requires 2/3 vote to pass.
YES:
SF Democratic Party; Sen. Dianne Feinstein; State Sen. Scott Wiener;
Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting; Mayor London Breed; all 11 Board of
Supervisors; Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff; SF Chronicle;
Bay Area Reporter;
SEIU 1021;
SF Bay Guardian;
Sierra Club; SPUR
NO:
SF Republican Party;
SF Green Party;
SF Libertarian Party
Proposition K: Affordable Housing Authorization
Permit SF to own, acquire, and develop up to 10,000 units of affordable rental housing.
YES:
SF Democratic Party; SF Green Party; State Sen. Scott Wiener; State
Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting; all 11 Board of Supervisors; SF
Chronicle; Bay Area Reporter; SF Bay Guardian; Sing Tao Daily; Coalition
on Homelessness;
SEIU 1021; SF Bike Coalition;
Sierra Club;
SPUR
NO:
SF Republican Party;
SF Libertarian Party
Proposition L: Business Tax Increase for Companies with Unequal Pay
Pay additional tax if top executive's pay is more than 100 times the median compensation paid to employees.
YES: SF Democratic Party;
SF Green Party;
State Sen. Scott Wiener; State Asm. David Chiu and Phil Ting; District Attorney Chesa Boudin; Bay Area Reporter;
SF Bay Guardian;
SEIU 1021; Sierra Club
NO:
SF Republican Party;
SF Libertarian Party;
SF Chronicle; SF Chamber of Commerce
