Vibemap’s guide to voting early and map of ballot drop offs in San Francisco
We’ve been inspired by Stacey Abrams, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and other leaders who’ve been helping people to make a plan to vote during the 2020 election. After you’ve received your ballot and filled it out, you might be wondering, “Where do I drop off my ballot in San Francisco?” We’ve got that answer covered for you with our favorite ballot drop off spots around town coordinated with a day or afternoon of supporting small and local businesses.
Below are our picks for the top locations to drop off your ballot in San Francisco and tips for what to do nearby.
Important Notes:
- Not sure of your voting status? Check here to make sure you’re registered to vote.
- This guide is just for those looking to drop off their mail-in ballot. If you’re looking to vote in person, look up your polling place here.
- Wear a mask, practice social distancing and stay safe.
- Read the rules closely before you go on your journey to drop off your ballot or vote. We want your vote to count!
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Ballot Drop-Off – Oct 5th to Nov 3rd
The crème de la crème of voting in San Francisco. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of civic pride you get from returning your ballot and getting an “I Voted” sticker at City Hall in Civic Center.
This year you can vote between October 5th and Nov 3rd at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. You probably have been here in the before times to check out a rock or EDM concert. The election center is large, safe, and easy to use. Enter from Larkin Street and either drop off your ballot in a secure box or wait for one of the voting booths. When we went at noon on a weekday, we didn’t have to wait in line at all.
Afterwards, listen to a classic song in honor of the music promoter Bill Graham who helped San Francisco artists like the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and Jefferson Airplane to make their mark. Graham was also a long supporter of artists’ rights and political and activist causes, like the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Also check out the signs outside the concern hall with the words of Maya Angelou, Barack Obama, and Jimi Hendrix.
You also might walk down Market Street on the new artwork at the corner of Larkin and Market. It’s a good spot to take a bike. Or stroll over over to Hayes Valley & Patricia’s Green which is closed to cars. pizza at Gioia, ice cream at Smitten, or a cocktail at Anina all seem like a good way to celebrate.
Chase Center Ballot Drop-Off – Oct 31st to Nov 3rd
If you’re a local sports fan, you might want to show up in your Golden State Warriors colors and vote as part of an initiative by several NBA team to use their sports arenas as polling places, including Chase Center. Before or after you vote, take a look at your reflection and congratulate yourself at the Seeing Spheres.
We miss the live sports and music that you’d normally be able to catch at the Chase Center, but you still can support one of the great local businesses that have locations at or near the stadium. Two of our favorite spots in Oakland for example, Bake Sale Betty & Brown Sugar Kitchen are still serving and taking togo orders. Or if you’re looking for some relaxing bay views right after you vote, walk over to the Mission Rock Resort or pick from one of several cool patios near Mission Bay and the Dogpatch.
Chase Center
State-of-the-art sports and entertainment center coming in 2019.
- beautiful
- buzzing
- exciting
- festive
Seeing Sheres
Sculpture Art
- art
- dreamy
- magical
- outdoors
Brown Sugar Kitchen (closed) [merged into 937bd53a-b449-4be6-831b-d0472892046c]
Down home soul food
- sugary
- brunch
- chill
- cool
Bakesale Betty
Lunchtime bakery is a popular take-out stop for hefty fried chicken sandwiches & classic desserts.
- solidarity
- new
- love
- generous
Bayview/Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library Drop-Off
One of two local library drop-off spots is the Bayview Linda Brooks-Buron Branch Library. Walk the slow street along Lane Street for a little sightseeing. Check out the old school vibes of the Bayview Opera House and one of our all time favorite places for floral vibes, Flora Grubb Gardens. After you vote, treat yourself to Yvonne’s Southern Sweets or maybe a savory pizza at the All Good Pizza Patio.
Bayview Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library
The original Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library was opened as a storefront facility in 1927. It was the 13th branch in the San Francisco Public Library system, replacing a “library station” that had been established in 1921. In 1969, a red brick building was built on the corner of the 3rd Street and Revere Avenue in the Bayview/Hunters Point district. With a bequest from Anna E. Waden, a clerical employee of the City of San Francisco. Miss Waden’s gift of $185,700 paid for the development of this cooperative community project. The building was completed in February 1969, and the formal dedication took place on July 12, 1969. The architect was John S. Bolles & Associates and the contractor was Nibbi Brothers. The façade included a sculpture by Jacques Overhoff.
During an in-depth community assessment process undertaken as part of the Branch Library Improvement Program, which included many community meetings and input from neighborhood groups, it was decided to replace the building in favor of a new, larger branch library for the Bayview /Hunters Point Community.
The new Bayview Branch Library opened on February 23, 2013. It was designed by THA Architecture of Portland Oregon, and Karin Payson A+D of San Francisco. The construction contractors were KCK Builders, a Bayview-based firm. The cost of the project was approximately $13.5 million. The building was designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification with such green features as a living roof and solar panels. Highlights of the new 9,000 square foot library include public art by Ron Saunders.
- amazing
- beautiful
- bookish
- fun
Bayview Opera House
Oldest Theater in SF
- art
- children
- community
- cozy
Flora Grubb Gardens
Garden center
- creative
- beautiful
- botanical
- dreamy
Yvonne’s Southern Sweets
Yvonne Hines bakes southern treats inspired by her grandmother’s passed-down family recipes. She set up shop in 2006, drawing a devoted following for her Pralines, a silky pecan candy. All her confections are baked from scratch (the secret: copious amounts of butter), including her justifiably famous pecan pie and sweet potato pie. The latter is hailed for its deft balance of spiciness and sweetness. — Time Out
- family
- flavorful
- hearty
- renowned
All Good Pizza id_dup
All Good Pizza serves Neapolitan style brick oven pizzas, organic salads, paninis grilled on fresh baked local bread and beer and wine in a 7,000 square foot beer garden in the eclectic Bayview district of San Francisco. Everything is created from scratch utilizing local vendors like Veritable Vegetable, Molinari Salami, and the Evergood Sausage Company. We cater for groups from 10-500 and regularly host
both private and public events and fundraisers.
Come and enjoy al fresco dining with us in San Francisco’s sunniest district!
- local
- amazing
- together
- cultural
Excelsior Branch Library Ballot Drop-Off
The other library drop-off location is the San Francisco Public Library Excelsior Branch. We recommend filling an afternoon with pupusas from Pacitas Salvadorean or banh mis from Ty’s and walking down the Excelsior Avenue slow street to McLauren Park for good views and dog watching.
San Francisco Public Library Excelsior Branch
The Excelsior Branch Library was the 10th branch established in the San Francisco Public Library system. Initially a “library station”, the first branch library was installed in rental quarters at 7 Bauer Street. In 1925 the branch was located on Ocean Avenue and later at 4465 Mission Street. The current building at 4400 Mission Street was opened to the public October 1, 1967. The branch was designed by architects Appleton and Wolfard and built for $248,000. The Excelsior Branch was the first to be renovated under the Branch Library Improvement Program and reopened on July 8, 2005.
- ocean
- public
Ty Sandwich
Vietnamese Banh Mi On Your Hand
- authentic
- popular
Pacitas Salvadorean Bakery
- amazing
- friendly
- fresh
- local
John McLaren Park
John McLaren Park is a huge park in the heart of San Francisco with a gorgeous view of the city. It is really easy and relaxing to stop by and take a break from the busy streets to appreciate where you are, what you are doing, and live in the moment.
At 312.54 acres, McLaren Park is the third largest park in San Francisco by area, after Golden Gate Park and Presidio. The park is surrounded mostly by the Excelsior, Crocker-Amazon, Visitacion Valley, Portola and University Mound neighborhoods, so it is the perfect spot to stop and experience what San Francisco has to offer!
- joyful
- park
- busy
- exciting
Drop off your ballot at a mailbox!
The classic choice if you’re looking for more places to drop off your San Francisco ballot. Drop off at your own mailbox or make an outing of it. We’ve got three vibey suggestions to help guide your San Francisco drop-off ballot adventures or you can build your own adventure.
In Solidarity Vibes: Mail your ballot in the Castro
Celebrate LBGTQ history in the Castro by dropping your ballot off at the Castro Post Office. Afterwards, head to Harvey Milk Plaza to pay homage to Harvey Milk, the first openly-gay person to be elected in California to a public office. Finally, head to local historic gay bar Twin Peak’s Tavern & classic diner Orphan Andy’s who are collaborating to offer outdoor drinks and burgers.
Explore more In Solidarity Vibes.
Castro Post Office
- civic
Harvey Milk Plaza
For over 25 years, the community has sought to reimagine Harvey Milk Plaza as a welcoming, vibrant space that honors Harvey’s life and legacy, celebrates his enduring importance to the LGBTQ+ community, and inspires all by acting as a beacon of hope to marginalized communities worldwide.
- progressive
- authentic
- botanical
- casual
Orphan Andy's Restaurant
Diner
- classic
- favorite
- friendly
- funny
Old School Vibes: Mail your ballot in SOMA
Soak in San Francisco post office history by first to heading Rincon Center where you can drop off your ballot. You may not be able to go inside to see the Anton Refregier murals, but appreciate the unique 1940’s Art Moderne architecture. Afterwards, walk by the old Ferry Station Post Office at Embarcadero & Mission before grabbing an outdoor lunch at Gott’s at the Ferry Building.
Explore more Old School Vibes.
One Rincon Center
- family
- historic
- outdoors
Rincon Center Murals
The former Rincon Annex post office (now Rincon Center) has an extraordinary set of murals, 27 large panels along the upper wall of the lobby of the old post office. They tell the “History of California” from the Spanish conquest of California to the founding of the United Nations in the city at the end of the Second World War.
These murals are the work of Anton Refregier, an artist with a leftist bent and a strong streak of independence. They are an astonishing accomplishment in terms of scale, historical vision and artistic style, which is quite unlike most mural art of the time.
— livingnewdeal.org
- art
- civic
- historic
- oldschool
Gott's Roadside
- cool
- family
- friendly
- fresh
Ferry Building
Ferry Building & Marketplace
- vibrant
- amazing
- celebration
- authentic
Playtime Vibes: Mail your ballot at Ocean Beach
Start from anywhere in San Francisco and bike to Ocean Beach. Drop off your ballot at Irving & La Playa Streets and take a walk on the beach. Afterwards, window browse at Mollusk Surf Shop and grab a coffee at Devil’s Teeth Baking Company.
More Ways to Get in Involved
After you vote early, we recommend heading to Manny’s who have been offering phone banking opportunities every Monday (Sign up here). It’s right along the stretch of Valencia Street which is closed to cars and open to people! We love the fresh and spicy vibes at West of Pecos for example or the tunes at the Valencia Room. You might also stroll by the Women’s Building in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and women’s right to vote. You also might consider supporting the League of Women Voters and Voto Latino.
Manny's
Manny’s is a people powered and community focused meeting and learning place in the heart of San Francisco that combines a restaurant, political bookshop, and civic events space.
The goal of Manny’s is to create a central and affordable place to become a better informed and more involved citizen.
We offer our events space to nonprofits, activists, and civic organizations to do their work as well as host our own civic and arts related programming. Our kitchen is run by the non-profit, Farming Hope, which hires formerly homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals and trains them in the food skills needed to work in the restaurant industry.
- activist
- art
- brunch
- civic
San Francisco Women's Building
Founded in 1979, The Women’s Building is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-service center for women and girls. Their mission is to provide women and girls with the tools and resources they need to achieve full and equal participation in society.
The Women’s Building is a safe place that addresses two of San Francisco’s most pressing issues: Services and advocacy for the well-being of women and girls and affordable space for non-profits and community members.
- activist
- authentic
- solidarity
- inspired
About the Author:
Steve Pepple
Steve is a civic technologist and co-Founder of Vibemap working at the intersection of people, data, and civic life. He enjoys enjoying art and nature and is an advocate for public transportation, livable urban centers, and government innovation.
Steve’s Vibes: local, friendly, unexpected, vibrant, reuniting with an old friend in dimly lit neighborhood hangouts, getting lost in some rugged urban beauty.
Follow @stevepepple
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