Safeguarding San Francisco’s voted ballots
The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office protects Election Day ballots
The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office protects Election Day ballots
Why does the Sheriff’s Office protect the voted ballots?
The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office collects and protects Election Day ballots from all 588 of the city’s precincts. Voters passed a reform measure in 2002, which assigned this responsibility to the Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s deputies patrol all areas where “live” or voted ballots are processed, stored, or transported until the election is certified by the Secretary of State. The certification process can take up to 28 days.