Career Opportunity

Ballot Retriever Driver – San Francisco Department of Elections (1402 Junior Clerk)

Recruitment: REF60235A

Published: March 16, 2026

Accepting applications until: April 08, 2026

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

Department Background

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. Department staff work year-round to ensure that every eligible San Franciscan has easy access to safe, barrier-free registration and voting options. The Department also works continuously to improve its elections programs with the goal of making them ever more efficient and responsive to the needs of San Francisco voters.

The Department strives to cultivate a workplace environment in which employees of all racial and ethnic backgrounds feel respected, valued, and supported in providing the fairest and most effective services possible to San Francisco residents. The Department is committed to maintaining an inclusive workplace and to providing the training and resources necessary for all employees to succeed in delivering equitable services to city residents.

The Department is committed to reaching job seekers of all backgrounds. Everyone, including job seekers from underrepresented communities, is strongly encouraged to apply.

Role description

Position Description:

In preparation for the June 2, 2026, Statewide Direct Primary Election, the Department is seeking applications for seasonal positions of Ballot Retriever Driver (1402 Junior Clerk).

The ideal candidate will have the ability to operate a cargo van (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. This position involves continuous use of hands and arms and sitting for prolonged periods while safely operating a vehicle.

Candidates 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; and perform regular maintenance on ballot drop boxes, including cleaning and repair.

In addition to the range of duties assigned to the 1402 job code, https://careers.sf.gov/classifications/?classCode=1402&setId=COMMN, the person in this position will be responsible for:

1. Retrieving ballots from assigned drop box locations following chain-of-custody procedures
2. Transporting ballots to designated facilities
3. Inspecting drop boxes for damage or tampering and documenting conditions
4. Photographing and reporting issues to Department supervisors
5. Performing minor upkeep such as removing debris or obstructions as directed

City vehicles, phones, official badges, and safety vests will be provided.

In addition, the person in this position may also be assigned as to guide the lines in the Voting Center or to a polling place on Election Day, or to assist with Poll Worker Dispatch duties, as needed. The person may also be assigned to assist in post-election tasks as needed.

Position Schedule and Hours:

The tentative start date for this position may be between May 1, 2026 and May 27, 2026, and this job will run until June 2, 2026. The person in this position may also be assigned to assist with post-election tasks which may for two to three weeks after Election Day.

Training and Assignment Schedule:

1. A mandatory in-person training is scheduled for May 1, 2026, and will last approximately six hours. The training will cover vehicle policy, ballot retrieval duties, and response protocols.
2. Election Day Assignment: Election Day is an extended assignment beginning at 5:30 AM and continuing until operations conclude.
3. Additional Assignments: In-person assignments may occur between June 3, 2026 and June 12, 2026.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Have a valid California Driver’s License and a clean DMV record
   1. No more than 2 points within the last 3 years, and no more than 1 point in the last year are allowed
   2. No DUIs, reckless driving and endangerment within the last 10 years
2. Regular City driving/ parking experience
3. Must be knowledgeable about troubleshooting basic car issues, i.e. dead batteries/ changing tires
4. Must be comfortable driving for an entire day (breaks included)
5. Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs.

Work hours will vary widely in accordance with the demands of the election cycle and will range between 20 and 40 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 Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/benefits/.

Position Salary: $28.975 to $35.2125 hourly

$60,268 to $73,242 annually

How to qualify

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:
Six (6) months of clerical experience including preparing and maintaining a variety of records and/or documents, filing, use of office equipment, public contact and processing of incoming and outgoing mail.

Substitution:

Any one of the following may substitute for the required experience:

Completion of 15 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of coursework from an accredited college or university; OR

Completion of a clerical training program (240 hours); OR

Completion of an approved City and County of San Francisco Clerical Administrative training program.

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
• Regular City driving/ parking experience
• Must be knowledgeable about troubleshooting basic car issues, i.e. dead batteries/ changing tires
• Must be comfortable driving for long stretches (breaks included)
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs.

To be considered for this position, applications must be received by 5:00 p.m., April 8, 2026.

Additional Requirement: Applicants must have a valid California driver's license and a clean DMV record.

Successful candidates will be required to show their valid CA driver’s license and provide a copy of their latest DMV record before an offer can be made.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the Elections Hiring Team at elections.careers@sfgov.org.

What else should I know?

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Carol Isen - Human Resources Director

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

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.