1. Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System

2. What we have done so far to disseminate the information
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
What we have done so far to disseminate the information
Created a page on sfelections.org with info about the system & FAQs
Featured info in the Voter Information Pamphlet sent to nearly 500,000 registrants & voting instructions sent to nearly 290,000 people who vote by mail
Partnered with the Library for the Blind and Print Disabled to provide info to their clients via blast, in braille, & large print
Produced outreach materials & added info to our outreach presentation
Contacted nearly 70 organizations serving primarily people with disabilities & seniors & scheduled several events at their facilities
This slide provides some information about what the Department has done so far to disseminate the information about a remote accessible vote-by-mail system.
Today’s presentation will contain the same material that we plan to share at the upcoming outreach events and will address the following topics:

3. Topics to cover Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
What is a remote accessible vote-by-mail system?
Who is eligible to use the system?
When can voters access their ballots through this system?
What are the steps to accessing, marking, printing, & returning the ballot?
How does the system ensure voters’ privacy & security of selections?

4. What is a remote accessible vote-by-mail system?
It is a ballot delivery option that allows voters with disabilities to access & mark their ballot from any computer with internet access
Voters must also have access to a printer to print their marked ballot
It is a new ballot delivery option that allows voters with disabilities to access and mark their ballots in a screen-readable format from any computer with internet access.
Essentially. this service provides an opportunity for accessible voting without having to go to a polling place on Election Day where the Department provides an accessible voting equipment.
It is important to note that voters must also have access to a printer to print their marked ballot.

5. Who is eligible to use the system?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
Who is eligible to use the system?
Under California law, only voters with disabilities & those in the military or living overseas are eligible to use this system. To access the ballot, a person must be registered as a vote-by-mail voter
To Apply:
Submit a paper application
Apply online at sfelections.org/vbm
(415) or TTY: (415)
Under California law, only voters with disabilities and those in the military or living overseas are eligible to use this system.
To be able to access the ballot through the remote accessible vote-by-mail system, a person must be registered as a vote-by-mail voter.
The Department offers several ways to apply to vote by mail. A person can submit a paper application to the Department, or apply online at sfelections.org/vbm, or call us at (415) or TTY: (415)

6. When can I access my ballot through the system?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
When can I access my ballot through the system?
Access your ballot anytime starting Monday, May 7 through Election Day, Tuesday, June 5, at sfelections.org/access
May 7
June 5
If you wish to use the remote accessible vote-by-mail system to access your ballot for the June election, you may do so anytime during the early voting period, which opened yesterday and will continue through Election Day, Tuesday, June 5.
To access the system, go to sfelections.org/access, and now let’s walk through the user experience with the system.

7. How can I access my ballot?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How can I access my ballot?
Entering sfelections.org/access will take you to this portal where you will need to enter your house number and ZIP code where you are registered to vote and your date of birth. And then click on the “Submit” button.

8. How can I access my ballot?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How can I access my ballot?
You will then be taken to this Welcome screen. Here you can select a language - English, Chinese, Spanish, or Filipino - in which you prefer to use the system. You can also adjust font size of information appearing on the screen. Once you established your preference for language and font size, click on the “Continue” button.

9. How can I access my ballot?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How can I access my ballot?
On this next screen, you will need to read the following affirmations and then confirm your eligibility to access the system by checking a box next to the statement certifying that all information is true.
This attestation language must be presented to potential users of the system in accordance with the California Secretary of State’s approval of the system. Once you have done so, click on the “Continue” button.

10. How can I access my ballot?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How can I access my ballot?
On this next screen, you will be presented with instructions for returning your ballot and the Department’s contact information in case you have any questions or need assistance.
You can choose to read the instructions on the screen or download them to your computer by clicking on this blue button.

11. How can I access my ballot?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How can I access my ballot?
When you are ready to mark your ballot, click on the “Continue” button at the very bottom of the instructional screen.

12. How can I access my ballot?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How can I access my ballot?
How to Mark a Selection
How to Remove a Selection
Your ballot will be presented onscreen in an accessible format, compatible with screen readers.
Here on the screen you can see an excerpt from a demo ballot. You can use an assistive device to mark your selections by clicking on a checkbox next to the office or measure. To remove a selection, you may click on the checked box again.

13. How can I access my ballot?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How can I access my ballot?
How to Vote for a Write-In Candidate
To vote for a qualified write-in candidate who is not listed on the ballot, click the checkbox beside the WRITE-IN space at the end of the candidate list, then type the candidate's name in the space.
Once you have marked your ballot, click on the “Continue” button at the bottom of the screen.

14. How can I access my ballot?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How can I access my ballot? No
You can review your ballot selections on this Review screen. If you wish to change any selection, click the “Change” button next to it. When you are finished reviewing your selections, click on the “Continue” button at the bottom of the screen.

15. How can I access my ballot?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How can I access my ballot?
As we have covered in the beginning of this presentation. after mark­ing your ballot, you must print and return it to the Department.
On this screen, click on the “Print Selections” button to print your ballot. After your ballot is done printing, click the “End Session” button. I’d like to draw your attention to this warning that appears on the screen that reads “Closing your section will clear all your ballot selections. This cannot be undone”. Be sure to print your ballot before ending session; otherwise you’d have to start the voting process again.

16. How can I access my ballot?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How can I access my ballot?
QR code holds no voter-identifying information such as voter ID, name, or address No
Now you have printed your selections. The ballot printout will look similar to what you are seeing on the screen. It will be printed on a single page and only your selections will appear next to contests and measures. If you did not vote on a contest or measure, “Zero Selections Made” will appear next to it.
In the top right corner, there will be a QR code containing your ballot selections. This QR code does not hold any voter-identifying information such as voter ID, name or address. If you scan it, you will see a list of numbers that corresponds to contest numbers and your choices.

17. How can I access my ballot?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How can I access my ballot?
In fact, here on the screen we have a QR code reading of a demo ballot. Let’s decipher this list of numbers:
v:1.2 – these numbers identify a version of Democracy Live system that SF is using  
bs:10 – next is a ballot style or ballot type; in this case it’s ballot type 10
pid:7866 – next is a voter’s precinct number; in this case it’s pct 7866
id: – this string of numbers is a ballot serial number; it’s an equivalent of a serial number printed on a paper ballot stub
The first number identifies the contest and corresponds to the order in which the contest appears on the voter’s ballot.
The second number identifies the candidate that the voter selected and corresponds to the order in which the candidate’s name is listed on the voter’s ballot. In this example, in contest 1, the person voted for the thirteenth candidate listed for that contest. For measures, “1” corresponds to a “Yes” vote and “2” corresponds to a “No” vote.
So, you’ve printed your ballot selections and are ready to prepare your ballot for return.

18. What are ballot return options?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
What are ballot return options?
There are different ways you can return your ballot. Let’s review them!
As a vote-by-mail voter, you will still receive a paper ballot, a postage-paid return envelope, and voting instructions in the mail. If you access and mark your ballot through the remote accessible vote-by-mail system, you can mail it to the Department using the postage-paid return envelope.
After you placed your marked ballot into the return envelope, remember to sign the envelope. The holes on the envelopes indicate the edges of the signature section where you can sign. If you are unable to sign, you may make your “mark” and have a witness sign it.
If you unable to return your ballot, you may authorize anyone to return it by providing the required information on the back of the envelope.

19. Department of Elections 1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, Rm 48
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
What are ballot return options?
Department of Elections
(VBM Enclosed)
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, Rm 48
San Francisco CA 94102
If you lost or spoiled your return ballot envelope, you may contact us and we will mail you a replacement envelope.
But if you prefer to use your own envelope, you may do so. If using your own envelope, you will need to print, complete, and sign the Voter Oath, which is available on the screen with instructions, which we have reviewed earlier. The Department will use this Oath to verify your signature as required under state election law. Here on the screen you can see how you may address the envelope when returning it to the Department.

20. What are ballot return options?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
What are ballot return options?
Location
Days
Hours
City Hall Voting Center
Monday, May 7 – Tuesday, June 5
Two weekends: May 26–27 & June 2–3
Weekdays: 8 am– 5 pm
Weekends: 10 am– 4 pm
Election Day: 7 am– 8 pm
Drop-Off Stations Outside City Hall
Saturday, June 2 – Tuesday, June 5
Any Polling Place or Voting Center in CA
Prior to and on Election Day, Tuesday, June 5
Pre-election hours vary
You may also return your ballot in person to the City Hall Voting Center.
Voting Center is open now through Election Day, Tuesday, June 5, 8 am to 5 pm during weekdays, and 10 am to 4 pm during two weekends prior to Election Day. On Election Day, the Voting Center observes the same hours as polling places, 7 am to 8 pm
You may also bring your ballot to the drop-off stations located outside City Hall during the four days prior to Election Day or to any California polling place or voting center prior to and on Election Day.

21. Deadlines for Returning Voted Ballots to the Department
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
What are the deadlines to return my ballot?
Deadlines for Returning Voted Ballots to the Department
By Mail
Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked or date stamped before or on Election Day, Tuesday, June 5, & received by the Department no later than Friday, June 8
In Person
Ballots that are returned in person must be received by the Department no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, June 5
Now, let’s review ballot return deadlines. When returning your ballot, keep in mind that ballots that are mailed must be postmarked or date stamped before or on Election Day, Tuesday, June 5, and received by the Department no later than Friday, June 8.
Ballots that are returned in person must be received by the Department no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, June 5.

22. How does the system ensure voters’ privacy and security of selections?
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
How does the system ensure voters’ privacy and security of selections?
The system DOES NOT
identify or keep track of users
interact with any remote server when voter marks the ballot
store or transmit votes over the internet
First of all, the system does not identify or keep track of its users. It only requires voters to acknowledge that they are eligible to use it before accessing their ballots. This requirement is in accordance with certification of the system by the California Secretary of State.
Also in accordance with certification, the portion of the process during which a person marks selections on the ballot does not at any time interact with any remote server. The ballot marking process takes place solely on the device the voter is using to access the system. The system does not store or transmit votes over the internet and it does not allow electronic voting. As we discussed earlier, voters must print and return their ballots to the Department for counting.
When the Department receives the voter’s ballot, his or her selections will be transferred onto a paper ballot for tabulation by the voting equipment. During this process, to preserve the secrecy of the votes, Department staff will remove and separate the ballot from the envelope that has the voter’s name, address, and sig­nature. This process is done in a multi-person team, and is open to public observation and live-streamed on sfelections.org.

23. Thank you for participating in this important election!
Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail System
We’re here to assist!
(415) or (866) toll free
TTY: (415)
City Hall, Room 48: Monday-Friday, 8 am–5 pm
Thank you for participating in this important election!
This concludes our today’s presentation. If you have any questions about the remote accessible vote-by-mail system or accessing, marking, or returning your ballot, contact us at:
(415) or (866) toll free
TTY: (415)
City Hall, Room 48: Monday-Friday, 8 am–5 pm