Electing to Vote in June? Find Resources Here.

What with the acute level of attention focused on presidential elections, it’s easy to forget that local politics can affect our communities as much as what is decreed at the federal level of government. If you'd like to pay a little less attention to coverage of the November presidential race and spend that time digging into the biographies of candidates closer to home, start by checking our government info sheet for general information.

For San Francisco residents:

• Learn how to register, where to register, and how to vote in person or by mail.
• Find out who and what is on the ballot,
• Take a look at candidates' positions, backgrounds, activities, and ideology to make sure your city and state governments align with your values.

For analysis of San Francisco ballot measures, check out some of these voter guides:

City Voter Guide

SPUR's Voter guide

League of Women Voters Pros/Cons Guide

KQED's Election Guide

Don’t stop once you've gotten your "I Voted" sticker on June 7th – pay special attention to non-presidential election years too. When voter turnout is low, fringe-ideology and/or business-backed candidates can more easily slip into federal, state, and local government seats; these candidates can range from demagogues with small but ardent followings to aspiring puppet rulers with deep pockets who are unlikely to have won a district if a majority of community members had voted (see studies cited below).

In an era when 40% or less of the eligible voting population makes it to the booth in non-presidential elections, the will of the people is a concept in decline. Some of this is related to restrictive voter registration policies and gerrymandering -- what is becoming chronic low voter turnout is a complex problem -- but the lesson is clear: voting matters most when you DON’T do it. So make sure you're registered, confirm your voting location, and I'll see you at the polls!