1. Non-Citizen Voting in San Francisco
- Intro of myself.
- Pairs (1) voting rights work that will lower barriers to voting during this year’s critical 2016 elections with (2) civic engagement work that deepens Asian American communities’ investment in elections at the local level.
Non-Citizen Voting in San Francisco

2. Who Can Vote?

3. In almost every city around the nation, only citizens of the United States can vote.
In San Francisco, some non-citizens have a very special right. The right to vote in school elections.
Thanks to Prop N.

4. Who Can Vote in All Elections?
Citizens 18 years of age and older can vote in all elections.
That includes:
President
Governor and other state offices
Congress and the state legislature
SF Mayor and Board of Supervisors
SFUSD Board of Education (runs the city’s schools)

5. Who Can Vote in Prop N Elections?
Some non-citizens can vote in Prop N elections.
That includes:
SFUSD Board of Education (runs the city’s schools) only

6. Which Non-Citizens Can Vote in Prop N Elections?
Non-citizens can vote in school elections aka Prop N elections if they are:
18 years old or older
Resident of San Francisco
Parent/legal guardian of a child
Child must be 18 or younger and also a resident of San Francisco
Not currently on parole and not ruled ineligible by a court of law

7. Who Still Cannot Vote in Any Elections?
Someone cannot vote in any elections if they are:
a non-citizen who lives outside SF
a non-citizen in SF with no children
a non-citizen in SF with children over 18
a non-citizen in SF with children who do not live in SF

8. Summary of Who Can Vote in What in SF
Citizens can vote in all elections
Non-citizen parents of kids 18 and younger can vote in school elections
Non-citizens without kids or with kids over 18 cannot vote

9. What Happens If Someone Votes in the Wrong Election?

10. Voting In the Wrong Election Can Cause Serious Problems
Be careful! If a non-citizen votes in the regular elections, that is a federal crime.
Possible criminal prosecution
For greencard holders, complications when seeking citizenship (and possible deportation)
For undocumented folks, possible deportation

11. What to Do If Someone Made a Mistake
If a non-citizen realizes he or she registered to vote for the wrong elections or voted in the wrong elections….
Contact an attorney ASAP
SFILEN,
Asian Law Caucus,

12. Someone is Eligible to Vote in Prop N Elections
Someone is Eligible to Vote in Prop N Elections. Should I Register Them to Vote?

13. We must inform them of the risks.
No, not yet.
We must inform them of the risks.

14. What Are the Risks of Voting in Prop N Elections?
In order to vote, we all must first “register” to vote. That means giving the elections office our personal information.
That personal information can be obtained by anyone, including ICE and law enforcement.

15. What Are the Risks of Voting in Prop N Elections?
Every non-citizen interested in voting in Prop N elections should know that their name, address, date of birth, etc. will be publicly available.

16. What Are the Risks of Voting in Prop N Elections?
Also, when a non-citizen seeks to naturalize, they will be asked if they have ever voted.
SF Department of Elections will provide letter explaining right to participate in Prop N elections. Voter can submit letter as part of naturalization application.

17. Someone is Eligible to Vote in Prop N Elections and Knows the Risks.
They want to vote. Now what?

18. How Does Someone Sign Up to Vote in Prop N Elections?
Department of Elections is finalizing a “voter registration application” for Prop N elections.
Non-citizens should use this form and ONLY this form to sign up to vote.
Comes with checklist ensuring the person is allowed to vote in Prop N elections.

19. How Does Someone Sign Up to Vote in Prop N Elections?
Fill it out.
Sign it.
Mail it back or return in-person to Department of Elections office in City Hall.

20. How Are Non-Citizen Votes Counted?

21. No name is attached to a ballot when it is submitted.
How Are Non-Citizen Votes Counted?
No name is attached to a ballot when it is submitted.
All ballots, from citizens and non-citizens, are counted together for school board elections.

22. What Languages Can Someone Vote In?

23. No need to request translated ballot
SF Elections Are Multi-Lingual
Ballots for Prop N elections will be in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino/Tagalog
No need to request translated ballot
Limited assistance is also available in Korean and Vietnamese.

24. Questions?