San Francisco, California, Proposition H, Move Local Elections to Even-Numbered Years and Change Initiative Petition Signature Requirements Amendment (November 2022)

San Francisco Prposition H
Election date November 8, 2022
Topic Local election date changes
Status Approved
Type Referral

San Francisco Prposition H was on the ballot as a referral in San Francisco on November 8, 2022. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported changing elections for Mayor, Sheriff, District Attorney, City Attorney, and Treasurer from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years (in November of presidential election years) and changing signature requirements for ballot initiatives from 5% of votes cast for mayor to 2% of registered voters.

A "no" vote opposed the proposed changes, thereby continuing to hold elections for Mayor, Sheriff, District Attorney, City Attorney, and Treasurer during odd-numbered years and maintaining that the basis for determining the number of signatures required for ballot initiatives shall be 5% of votes cast for mayor in the previous mayoral election.

Election results

San Francisco Prposition H
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		203,855	71.22%
No		82,391	28.78%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

Proposition H moved elections for Mayor, Sheriff, District Attorney, City Attorney, and Treasurer from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years (in November of presidential election years) and changed signature requirements for ballot initiatives from 5% of votes cast for mayor to 2% of registered voters.

The city of San Francisco, California, held general elections for mayor, city attorney, district attorney, sheriff, and treasurer on November 5, 2019. The next election for these offices was scheduled for November 2023.

At the time of the election in San Francisco, ranked-choice voting was used in all elections for mayor, assessor-recorder, city attorney, district attorney, public defender, sheriff, treasurer, and the board of supervisors.

As of 2022, the signature requirement to qualify an initiative for the ballot in San Francisco was 5% of the votes cast for all candidates for mayor in the last preceding general municipal election for mayor. In 2019, 177,192 votes were cast in the mayoral election, meaning the signature requirement set on the basis of votes cast was 8,860. Proposition H changed the requirement to 2% of registered voters in San Francisco. As of November 9, 2022, San Francisco had 497,561 registered voters. Two percent of that number is 9,951. Moving the elections to even-numbered years was expected to increase voter turnout in the election, meaning initiative signature requirements would increase due to increased votes in mayoral elections. Therefore, changing the signature requirement to be calculated based on the number of registered voters was designed to prevent a large increase in signature requirements from changing the date of mayoral elections.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Prposition H was as follows:

“

Shall the City amend the Charter to hold elections for Mayor, Sheriff, District Attorney, City Attorney and Treasurer in November of presidential election years, extend the current terms of these officials by one year to January 2025, provide that there would be no regularly scheduled election in 2023, hold elections for local ballot measures only in even-numbered years or in special elections, and change the minimum number of signatures required for voters to place ordinances and declarations of policy on the ballot?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Fiscal impact

City Controller Ben Rosenfield wrote the following fiscal impact statement for Proposition H:

“

Should the proposed Charter amendment be approved by the voters, in my opinion, it would decrease the cost of government by approximately $6.9 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023–2024 and in subsequent odd-numbered years, by consolidating elections and eliminating municipal elections in odd-numbered years. However, these savings would be reduced or eliminated if a special election is required in an odd-numbered year. The proposed Charter amendment would require elections for Mayor, Sheriff, District Attorney, City Attorney and Treasurer to be held in even-numbered years. To do so, the amendments provides that the people elected to these offices in 2019 would serve a five-year term. The next election for these offices would be in November 2024 followed by elections for these offices every four years in even-numbered years. These changes would save the City approximately $9 million for the cost of running general municipal elections in odd-numbered years, offset by approximately $2.1 million for the cost of printing and mailing ballot cards and voter information pamphlets, temporary staffing costs, and other materials and services that would be shifted from one year to the next, for a net savings of $6.9 million over two years beginning in FY 2023–24. The amendment would also change the signature threshold for initiative ordinances to two percent of the last number of registered voters in San Francisco, instead of five percent of the turnout in the last mayoral election.

”

Support

UpTheVoteSF led the Yes on H campaign.

Supporters

Supporters of Proposition H included:

• California Common Cause
• League of Women Voters of San Francisco
• San Francisco Democratic Party
• Represent.Us
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice- Asian Law Caucus
• Sierra Club
• Uniting Professionals
• San Francisco Labor Council
• Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club
• Former Mayor Art Agnos
• San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club
• San Francisco Women's Political Committee

Voter guide arguments

The supporting arguments provided for this measure in the 2022 San Francisco Voter Guide (written by California Common Cause, League of Women Voters of San Francisco, San Francisco Democratic Party, Represent.Us, Asian Americans Advancing Justice- Asian Law Caucus, and Sierra Club) were as follows:

Prop H has the potential to double voter participation in San Francisco for important local offices and save the city millions of dollars. At a time when voting rights and democracy are under attack, Prop H is a simple solution to ensure that more San Franciscans have a voice in our democracy. This non-partisan, good government measure moves the elections for Mayor, Sheriff, District Attorney, City Attorney, and Treasurer— currently in odd years— to even years. Yes on H updates the city Charter to align with a state law prohibiting cities from holding off-cycle elections if doing so significantly lowers voter turnout. Already 50+ cities have made this change in California, including Los Angeles, San Bruno, Modesto, and San Mateo. It’s time for San Francisco to codify the democratic ideals of our state and city! Over the last decade, voter turnout in San Francisco has averaged 43% in odd year elections and 80% in presidential cycles; with the lowest odd-year voter participation amongst communities of color, the working class, and young voters. Prop H isn’t just about increasing voter turnout but also ensuring that more voters will have a say in city elections. Consolidating next year’s election into the 2024 ballot will save about $7 million dollars which can be spent instead on urgent needs such as homelessness, housing, and public safety. Can you imagine what our local elections would look like if more voters participated? It's time to join the other California cities who have already made this important change to increase voter participation. Please join us and Vote Yes on Prop H.

Opposition

Opponents

• Richie Greenberg

Voter guide arguments

The supporting arguments provided for this measure in the 2022 San Francisco Voter Guide (written by Richie Greenberg) were as follows:

Throughout our history, San Francisco has condemned attempts by extremists around the world to seize power, exclude diverse voices and suppress the right to vote. But cancel elections right here? Unprecedented! Proposition H was crafted by the City's most left-wing movement socialists. Standing against this ballot measure is Mayor London Breed, along with advocates and leaders across community, education, business, nonprofit and grassroots organizations. We recognize this dangerous ploy by Supervisor Dean Preston to drive like-minded radical allies into office regardless of the will of the voters. Proposition H will simply eliminate the 2023 election for several elected offices. Everyone stays in office. Don't like the choices four years ago? Sorry! It's not up to the voters any more. What about our rights? This is voter suppression! Earlier this year, San Francisco celebrated democracy with the School Board and District Attorney recalls (which I advocated strongly). Dean Preston and his allies staunchly opposed recalls - and would have given Chesa Boudin a five year term if he was not ousted! In San Francisco, more Chinese, Filipino, Latino and lower income voters will cast ballots in 2022 than any year in our history, due to governor Gavin Newsom's mail-in ballot executive order. 2023 will again break records if we continue the political engagement of diverse voices -- Yet Dean Preston wants to break this momentum and actually suppress the vote. Annual elections are an important San Francisco democratic tradition that increases opportunities for citizens to vote. Vote NO on H because it undermines our democratic norms.

Background

San Francisco initiative petition requirements

Ballot measures can be put before San Francisco voters by referral from the city council or through a signature petition drive for an initiative, which proposes a new law, or a referendum, which puts a law passed by the city council before voters. San Francisco adopted the process of initiative and referendum in 1898, more than a decade before California as a whole authorized the use of initiative and referendum.

Going into the election, the signature requirement to qualify an initiative for the ballot in San Francisco was 5% of the votes cast for all candidates for mayor in the last preceding general municipal election for mayor. In 2019, 177,192 votes were cast in the mayoral election, meaning the signature requirement set on the basis of votes cast was 8,860. Proposition H was designed to change the requirement to 2% of registered voters in San Francisco. As of October 25, 2022, San Francisco had 497,991 registered voters. Two percent of that number is 9,960. Moving the elections to even-numbered years was expected to increase voter turnout in the election, meaning initiative signature requirements would increase due to increased votes in mayoral elections. Therefore, changing the signature requirement to be calculated based on number of registered voters was designed to prevent a large increase in signature requirements from changing the date of mayoral elections.

Mayor, Sheriff, District Attorney, City Attorney and Treasurer elections in San Francisco

See also: Mayoral election in San Francisco, California (2019)

The city of San Francisco, California, held general elections for mayor, city attorney, district attorney, sheriff, and treasurer on November 5, 2019. The next election for these offices was scheduled for November 2023.

At the time of the election in San Francisco, ranked-choice voting was used in all elections for mayor, assessor-recorder, city attorney, district attorney, public defender, sheriff, treasurer, and the board of supervisors.

Local ballot measures related to election date changes

The following is a list of local ballot measures designed to move municipal election dates from odd to even-numbered years and to coincide with statewide elections on the ballot in 2022:

State	Year	Ballot Measure	Status	Yes Votes	No Votes
California	2022	Arcadia Measure CA	Approved	9,052 (67%)	4,496 (33%)
Colorado	2022	Boulder Question 2E	Approved	26,138 (63%)	15,039 (37%)
California	2022	Compton Measure ED	Approved	7,196 (63%)	4,137 (37%)
Colorado	2022	Fort Collins Ballot Question 2B	Approved	50,590 (76%)	16,317 (24%)
Washington	2022	King Charter Amendment 1	Approved	564,228 (69%)	247,961 (31%)
California	2022	Long Beach Measure LBC	Approved	80,644 (75%)	26,307 (25%)
California	2022	Long Beach Unified School District Measure LBU	Approved	89,106 (73%)	32,289 (27%)
California	2022	Modesto Measure G	Approved	34,310 (69%)	15,721 (31%)
California	2022	Pomona Measure PL	Approved	14,957 (75%)	5,116 (25%)
California	2022	Redwood City Measure Z	Approved	20,016 (87%)	3,094 (13%)
California	2022	San Francisco Prposition H	Approved	203,855 (71%)	82,391 (29%)
California	2022	San Jose Measure B	Approved	91,162 (55%)	73,147 (45%)
Florida	2022	St. Petersburg Charter Amendment 1	Approved	69,994 (70%)	30,046 (30%)

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 7-4 on July 19, 2022, to place this measure on the ballot. The Supervisors voted as follows:

• Yes: Chan, Melgar, Peskin, Preston, Ronen, Safai, and Stefani
• No: Dorsey, Mandelman, Mar, Walton

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in California

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in California.

How to vote in California

Poll times

All polls in California are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and California resident, not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony, and not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Pre-registration is available at 16 years of age. Pre-registered voters are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

California automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they complete a driver's license, identification (ID) card, or change of address transaction through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Learn more by visiting this website.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

California has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

California allows same-day voter registration.

Californians must be registered to vote at least 15 days before Election Day. If the registration deadline has passed for an upcoming election, voters may visit a county elections office, polling place, or vote center during the 14 days prior to, and including Election Day to conditionally register to vote and vote a provisional ballot, which are counted once county election officials have completed the voter registration verification process. The state refers to this process as Same Day Voter Registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in California, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

California's constitution requires that voters be U.S. citizens. When registering to vote, proof of citizenship is not required. Individuals who become U.S. citizens less than 15 days before an election must bring proof of citizenship to their county elections office to register to vote in that election. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

As of October 2025, two jurisdictions in California had authorized noncitizen residents to vote for local board of education positions through local ballot measures. Only one of those jurisdictions, San Francisco, had implemented that law. Noncitizens voting for board of education positions must register to vote using a separate application from the state voter registration application.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Eight states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Three states, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The secretary of state's My Voter Status website allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

California does not require voters to present identification before casting a ballot in most cases.

On September 29, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 1174 into law prohibiting any jurisdiction in the state from adopting a local law that requires voters to present ID before voting.

The federal Help America Vote Act requires that individuals in all 50 states who register to vote by mail and who have not voted previously in a federal election in their state must provide either their driver's license or a paycheck, bank statement, current utility bill, or government document showing their name and address. Individuals voting by mail must include a copy of one of those documents with their absentee/mail-in ballot.

These requirements do not apply if an individual submitted a copy of their identification, their driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering to vote.

The following list of accepted ID to comply with HAVA requirements was current as of October 2025. Click here for the California Secretary of State page to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Current and valid photo identification provided by a third party in the ordinary course of business that includes the name and photograph of the individual presenting it. Examples of photo identification include, but are not limited to, the following documents: driver's license or identification card of any state; passport; employee identification card; identification card provided by a commercial establishment; credit or debit card; military identification card; student identification card; health club identification card; insurance plan identification card; or public housing identification card. Any of the following documents, provided that the document includes the name and address of the individual presenting it, and is dated since the date of the last general election…: utility bill; bank statement; government check; government paycheck; document issued by a governmental agency; sample ballot or other official elections document issued by a governmental agency dated for the election in which the individual is providing it as proof of residency or identity; voter notification card issued by a governmental agency; public housing identification card issued by a governmental agency; lease or rental statement or agreement issued by a governmental agency; student identification card issued by a governmental agency; tuition statement or bill issued by a governmental agency; insurance plan card or drug discount card issued by a governmental agency; discharge certificates, pardons, or other official documents issued to the individual by a governmental agency in connection with the resolution of a criminal case, indictment, sentence, or other matter; public transportation authority senior citizen and disabled discount cards issued by a governmental agency; identification documents issued by governmental disability agencies; identification documents issued by government homeless shelters and other government temporary or transitional facilities; drug prescription issued by a government doctor or other governmental health care provider; property tax statement issued by a governmental agency; vehicle registration issued by a governmental agency; or vehicle certificate of ownership issued by a governmental agency.

”

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2022
• Local elections and campaigns ballot measures

California

• California 2022 local measures
• Local ballot measures, California
• San Francisco, California

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas