San Francisco voters will get their first look at results about 45 minutes after the polls close on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

When results come out

The Department of Elections says it will release four reports on election night:

  • About 8:45 p.m.: most mail ballots received and processed before Election Day.
  • About 9:45 p.m.: adds ballots cast at polling places.
  • About 10:45 p.m.: adds more polling place totals.
  • After all polling places report: the last report of the night.

In ranked-choice races, the first and fourth reports will show round-by-round results. The second and third will show only first choices. State law bars any county from releasing results until voting ends everywhere in California.

Starting Wednesday, Nov. 4, the department will post updated results at about 4 p.m. each day through Friday, Nov. 13. It will skip Veterans Day, Nov. 11. It will also post a daily count of ballots still to be processed. The earliest the city can certify results is Nov. 25. Our statewide results timeline explains the rest.

Early turnout

Nearly 130,000 San Francisco voters had cast ballots as of Saturday, CBS San Francisco reported. Elections director John Arntz said about 24% of registered voters had returned ballots, compared with about 17% at the same point before the June primary. "The turnout is much higher than what was in June, and it's also tracking ahead of the previous mid-term general election as well," Arntz said. Officials expect turnout in the high 60% to low 70% range.

The city will have 501 polling places on Election Day, and each one takes ballot drop-offs. You can also register and vote on the same day. Earlier: SF ballot returns in mid-October.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.