Safeguarding San Francisco’s voted ballots

The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office protects Election Day ballots

Why does the Sheriff’s Office protect the voted ballots?

The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office collects and protects Election Day ballots from all 588 of the city’s precincts. Voters passed a reform measure in 2002, which assigned this responsibility to the Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s deputies patrol all areas where “live” or voted ballots are processed, stored, or transported until the election is certified by the Secretary of State. The certification process can take up to 28 days.

 

For more information

Since Election Day 2002, San Francisco Sheriff's Office deputies have picked up, protected and delivered voted ballots for counting. See how SFSO does it in this video.

Transporting voted ballots

San Francisco Administrative Code. Article XIII Elections. Section 13.104.5