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Board votes to expand vote-by-mail for municipal elections; adds clause protecting in-person voting
Summary
Supervisors amended and unanimously passed an ordinance directing the Department of Elections to expand vote-by-mail for municipal contests while clarifying the measure does not reduce same-day in-person voting options.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an amendment and then adopted an ordinance Sept. 7 directing the Department of Elections to expand the use of vote-by-mail ballots in exclusively municipal elections and to encourage broader use of mail ballots.
Sponsor Supervisor Safaie proposed a non-substantive amendment, added by unanimous vote, clarifying that the ordinance would expand vote-by-mail "without limiting in-person voting opportunities on or before election day." Supervisor Preston had asked during discussion whether the measure could be interpreted to reduce polling-place staffing or drop-off centers; Safaie said the intent, based on conversations with the Department of Elections, was explicitly to add vote-by-mail options while retaining same-day voting and polling places.
The amended ordinance passed unanimously.
Why it matters: Expanding vote-by-mail aims to increase turnout and make voting more accessible, but supervisors asked and secured an explicit clarification to prevent unintended reductions in in-person access and polling resources.
Next steps: The ordinance as amended was adopted and will be implemented by the Department of Elections; the city attorney and the department will collaborate on any technical language needed for implementation.
