San Francisco officials remind first-time voters of new eligibility rules

By Tamara Barak, Bay City News Service

March 5, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - May 22 is the deadline to register to vote in the June 6 election and San Francisco officials are reminding first-time ballot-casters of federal changes that may affect their eligibility to vote.

As of Jan. 1, first-time voters who register to vote through U.S. mail must provide identification at the time of registration. The change in law is due to the Help America Vote Act, and applies only to Californians who have never voted in a federal election and whose qualifications to become a registered voter can't be verified through the state's new database.

A registrant who does not provide either a driver's license number or the last four digits of a social security number prior to voting, and whose eligibility can't be verified through the state database, will not be allowed to vote. The Secretary of State will provide each new voter who has never been assigned a license or social security number a unique identification number.

Those who need assistance completing a voter registration card may call the San Francisco Department of Election at (415) 554 4411.

Chinese-speaking voters may call (415) 554-4367. Spanish speaking voters may call (415) 554-4366. Hearing impaired voters may call (415) 554-4386.

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