November 2022: Vote Yes on H to Increase Voter Turnout

Proposition H would consolidate San Francisco’s elections by moving odd-year elections to even years, when voter participation is much higher. San Francisco League of Conservation Voters supports this initiative to increase voter engagement in electing local officials. 

Currently, five city offices are voted on during odd-year elections: the Mayor, Sheriff, District Attorney, City Attorney, and Treasurer. Historically, voter turnout for odd-year elections is 43%, with particularly low turnout from communities of color, working class voters, and young voters. 

By comparison, turnout for even-year elections is 80%. By moving odd-year elections to even years, more voters will participate in selecting San Francisco’s elected leaders.

If approved, Prop H will adjust the election calendar for the officials currently in these odd-year elected offices, extending their terms by one year, until the next even-year election in 2024. There is no primary for these offices, so Prop H would not affect any other elections.

Prop H would also make a change to the number of signatures required for a petition initiative to be placed on the ballot. The current signature threshold is 5% of the votes cast in the most recent mayoral election. Under Prop H, the threshold would be 2% of the number of registered voters. (Prop H does not specify a date for the count of registered voters, however, and this is a problem that is likely to be sorted out in court.) The goal is to keep the number of signatures required as close as possible to the current requirement.

From a practical perspective because all elections would take place in even-numbered years, there would be fewer elections. But it is possible that there will be more measures on the ballot.

SFLCV believes adopting even-year election cycles will increase voter turnout and improve San Francisco’s electoral process. Vote yes on Prop H.