About The Job
The public information below is from the official web site of San Francisco City and County. It is provided as a public service to voters and our supporters as a “job description” for the elected office of Supervisor in San Francisco.
The Board of Supervisors is the legislative branch of the City and County of San Francisco. The Board consists of 11 members. Each member is elected on a non-partisan basis from a district where he or she lives. The Board of Supervisors responds to the needs of the people of the City and County of San Francisco, establishes city policies, and adopts ordinances and resolutions.
Handbook for the Board of Supervisors.
The Supervisors are elected in November of even numbered years. In November, 1996, the charter was amended by the voters to establish district elections. In 2000, eleven Supervisors were elected from eleven districts. At the Inaugural meeting on January 8, 2001, it was determined which Supervisors would serve two-year or four year terms.
Beginning in 2002, Supervisors were elected to four-year terms. Voters use non-partisan ballots; that is, the ballot does not show any political party, and Supervisors do not run as members of a party or faction.
In November 2, 2004 San Francisco election began using the ranked-choice voting method. Ranked-choice voting allows San Francisco voters to elect local officials by selecting a first-choice candidate in the first column on the ballot, and different second- and third-choice candidates in the second and third columns on the ballot. Ranked-choice voting allows for a majority vote without the need for a separate run-off election.
Learn more: About the Board of Supervisors.