Background
The government of the City and County of San Francisco was consolidated in an act by the Legislature on April 19, 1856. The
first election under the consolidated entity was held on Nov. 4, 1856. The Department of Elections facilitates all elections
on behalf of San Francisco voters. Since the passage of a Charter amendment effective Jan. 1, 2002, the Elections Commission
assumed policy-making authority and oversight of all public federal, state, district and municipal elections in San Francisco.