Voting Rights
EVERY VOTE COUNTS
Many individuals with a criminal history are not fully aware of their voting rights. Even if you have a conviction, you may still be able to vote.
AM I ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?
Anyone is eligible to vote if the person is:
- A citizen of the United States, and
- a resident of that particular County, and
- is at least 18 years old at the time of the next election.
CAN I VOTE IF I AM IN COUNTY JAIL?
You CAN still vote if :
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You are in County Jail for a pending criminal charge but not convicted, or
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serving a sentence in the County Jail on a case involving probation.
HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE IF I AM IN SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY JAIL?
As an inmate, you CAN register to vote by completing a registration card and request an application to vote by absentee ballot. For assistance: Contact Prisoner Legal Services at (415) 558-2472; File a Prisoner Action Request through the Jail.
CAN I STILL VOTE IF I AM RELEASED FROM CUSTODY BEFORE I GET MY ABSENTEE BALLOT?
YES. Go to the local polling place of your home address and say you want to vote “provisionally.”
CAN I VOTE IF I HAVE A CONVICTION?
YES. Having a misdemeanor or felony conviction does not impact your right to vote. You CAN still vote if:
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You have a felony conviction and are on probation, or
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you have a felony conviction and have completed your probation, or
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you have completed parole.
YOU CANNOT VOTE IF: You have a felony conviction and you are still in prison or on parole.
WHEN DO I NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE?
15 days before Election Day. Upcoming scheduled elections are on November 6, 2007 and June 3, 2008.
WHERE DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?
To register, pick up a registration form at the Department of Elections in City Hall, the County Clerk’s office, or at any DMV, post office, or public library.
For more information about your voting rights, you can contact the following:
- Department of Elections
(415) 554-4375
www.sfgov.org/election - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California
(415) 293-325
www.aclunc.org/vote - Prisoner Legal Services
555 Seventh Street, Suite #201, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 558-2472
Information collected from the San Francisco Department of Elections, ACLU of Northern California, and Prisoner Legal Services.
Every Vote Counts - PDF version of this information