About the Department of Elections  

The mission of the Department of Elections (Department) is to provide equitable access to voting and election-related services and to conduct free, fair, and functional elections for the City and County of San Francisco.

Serving more than half a million registered voters, the Department maintains open and transparent operations in order to inspire public confidence in the integrity of San Francisco’s elections. The Department is committed to maintaining an inclusive workplace by providing the training, resources and tools necessary for all employees to succeed in delivering equitable services to City residents. (To learn more about the Department’s internal racial equity goals, please read our 2021-23 Racial Equity Action Plan.) To find out how our employees put democracy into action on a day-to-day level and learn about some of the tasks that Department of Elections are involved in, watch this short video about  Working at the Department of Elections.

In preparation for the February 15, 2022, Consolidated Special Municipal Election, the Department is seeking applications for seasonal positions that will assist in daily retrieval and transport of voted ballots from the ballot drop boxes located throughout San Francisco as well as patrol and maintenance of the ballot drop boxes.

Position Schedule and Hours:

The start date for this position will be either January 13, 2022 or February 11, 2022, and this job will run until February 16, 2022. Successful candidates may be invited back to perform similar duties in future elections for the Department of Elections.

Work hours are generally 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, work hours will vary widely in accordance with the demands of the election cycle and will range between 30 and 70 hours per week. The person in this position must be available to work overtime both during the week and on weekends as necessary. Overtime hours are paid at 1.5 the hourly rate.

This is a temporary exempt as-needed position. Temporary exempt as-needed employees who have worked more than 1040 hours in any consecutive 12-month period, and whose normal work week at the time of inclusion in the system is not less than 20 hours are eligible for health coverage and retirement benefits. For more information on the City and County of San Francisco benefit policies, refer to the Employee Handbook available at https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Employee-Handbook.pdf

Position Salary: $24.50/hour

Position Description:

The ideal candidate will have the ability to operate a minivan (e.g., Dodge Grand Caravan) and lift up to 50 lbs.; follow directions, relating both to work and to worksite rules; stay focused while working accurately and consistently; and have diligent attention to safety and security. The position requires continuous use of hands and arms and sitting for prolonged periods while safely operating a vehicle.

The candidate must be able to work independently and as part of a team; drive together with their team member in the same vehicle; collaborate with San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs who will provide ballot security; provide ballot drop box maintenance, including cleaning and repair; and regularly patrol drop boxes.

Staff will begin their day at the City Hall where they will receive specific instructions and supplies for each day. Retrieval of ballots from each ballot box is done in teams of two and with the presence of a Deputy Sherriff. Each team of two will be provided a route each day, listing addresses of assigned ballot box locations.  Ballot retrievers will be issued and must wear official badges and vests to be readily identified as election officials and be provided with city vehicles and phones which will be used for navigation, as well as a communication tool.  In teams of two, staff will pick up ballots from ballot boxes following designated order and custody transfer protocols established by the Department. At each visit, ballot retrievers will visually inspect the ballot drop box and surrounding area. If there are any signs of tampering or vandalism, staff will take pictures, report such instances to Department of Elections supervisor and in the notes section of the Ballot Chain of Custody form, and clean or repair the drop box as per Department supervisor. 

During your work schedule the department will provide the following mandatory trainings:

·       In-person multi hour lecture detailing defensive driving

·       In-person multi hour lecture detailing Ballot Retriever duties

·       In-person vehicle route driving

·       On-site training of drop box maintenance/ demonstration of ballot removal technique

Minimum Qualifications

·       Applicant must have a valid California Driver’s License and a clean DMV record

o   No more than 2 points within the last 3 years, and no more than 1 point in the last year are allowed

o   No DUI’s, reckless driving and endangerment within the last 10 years

·       Regular City driving/ parking experience

·       Must be knowledgeable about troubleshooting basic car issues, i.e. dead batteries/ changing tires

·       Must be comfortable driving for an entire day (breaks included)

·       Must be able to lift a minimum of 25 lbs.

Desired Qualifications

·       Excellent work ethics and sense of responsibility

·       Ability to work independently and as part of a team

·       Willingness to follow instructions, meet deadlines, and manage time effectively

·       Flexibility, tolerance, and stamina for repetitive tasks and occasional long hours

·       Must be comfortable working under public observation and photography

·       Prior experience using Google Forms

·       Prior experience using smartphones

·       Prior experience using navigation systems 

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact Michael Cerles, by email at [email protected].

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.