Vote No on San Francisco Proposition E

The ACLU of Northern California strongly opposes Proposition E on the March 5, 2024 ballot. The measure would reduce transparency around police use of force, authorize the use of invasive secret surveillance technology, and weaken independent oversight of the San Francisco Police Department.

Prop E is about politics, not public safety. It is a rash attempt to exploit voters’ frustrations with crime to distract from an unpopular mayor’s record and hand more power to the SFPD. Prop E would recklessly undermine hard-won reforms designed to hold police accountable and protect the public from abuse.

Vote NO on Prop E on March 5, 2024.

What would Prop E do?

Even the federal government agrees San Franciscans deserve more information about police misconduct, not less. In a 2016 report, the U.S. Department of Justice recommended that SFPD increase and improve its record keeping of use-of-force incidents. But in 2023, SFPD tried to bury damning data showing a sharp increase in use of force against Black people: in the last quarter of 2022, the department was 25 times more likely to use force on Black people than on white people.

Weakening use-of-force reporting requirements would make it easier for SFPD to hide police violence and harder for the public to hold officers accountable for misconduct. With SFPD’s history of scandals and persistent record of racial disparities in enforcement, Proposition E puts San Franciscans in danger.

Prop E would increase secret police surveillance and infringe on San Franciscans’ privacy. It would allow SFPD to track and monitor residents whenever they want without safety policies, public input, oversight, or limits to prevent abuse. According to the city attorney, Prop E would even allow police to create a sprawling facial recognition network using cameras and face-scanning drones.

Under the San Francisco Surveillance Ordinance, which community and neighborhood groups fought hard to pass in 2019, the Board of Supervisors must consider requests to use new surveillance technology and adopt safety rules to protect San Franciscans from potential police abuse. Prop E strips away these critical safeguards. Without them, we cannot protect our rights or hold police accountable.

Prop E would endanger pedestrians, cyclists, and other innocent bystanders, along with police officers themselves, by authorizing high-speed vehicle chases for low-level crimes in one of the densest cities in the country. Since 2018, 38% of the 150 vehicle pursuits by San Francisco police ended in a collision, with at least one person injured in 15% of those incidents, according to California Highway Patrol data. In 2023, multiple SFPD vehicle pursuits injured or killed people, prompting calls for a review of department vehicle policies. Instead, Prop E would allow for even more reckless car chases.

Take Action

Text, Call, or Canvass to Oppose Prop E | Join ACLU staff and volunteers to mobilize San Francisco voters and defend oversight, accountability, and transparency of the San Francisco Police Department.

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Media Coverage and Endorsements

San Francisco Chronicle: NO on Prop E endorsement – Prop. E throws a fistful of dubious public safety ideas at the wall in hope one sticks

San Francisco Bay Guardian: NO on Prop E endorsement

Bay Area Reporter: NO on Prop E endorsement

Mission Local: Dorsey, ACLU clash over Proposition E, which puts SFPD policy to a vote (includes video of full discussion)

Mission Local: Prop. E, the mayor’s police measure, is no silver bullet for crime, foes say

Mission Local: Here’s how Prop. E could change police surveillance in SF

CalMatters: Police want drones in car chases. How SF’s Prop E could affect that

San Francisco Chronicle: Critics attack Breed’s billionaire-backed police ballot measure as dangerous to public

Important Dates to Make Your Voice Heard

Election Day is March 5, 2024, and San Franciscans will be asked to vote Yes or No on Prop E.

The San Francisco Department of Elections webpage has all the information you need to register to vote, check your voter record, track your vote-by-mail ballot, update your language preference for election materials, view your voting districts, and more.

To vote, you can either mail back your ballot, drop off your ballot at designated locations, or vote in person. Read more about ways to vote at www.sf.gov/ways-vote.

If you are on parole or in county jail, you may register and vote.

If you are experiencing homelessness, you may register and vote.

ASAP	Check your voter registration status to ensure that elections officials have your current mailing address and language preferences. It usually takes 2 to 3 business days after you register for your status to be updated online.
February 5, 2024	San Francisco Department of Elections begins mailing vote-by-mail ballots. All active registered California voters will receive a mail-in ballot. The City Hall Voting Center opens to all local voters.
February 19, 2024	Last day to register to vote online or with the paper form for the March 5, 2024 election.
February 20, 2024	Deadline to re-register online or by mail to update your party preference.
March 5, 2024	Election Day 8 p.m. – Deadline to submit a conditional voter registration application at the City Hall Voting Center or a polling place. Get more information here.

Opponents of Proposition E

San Francisco Women’s Political Committee

Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco

San Francisco Rising Action Fund

Older Women's League (OWL) - S.F.

Richmond District Democratic Club

League of Women Voters of San Francisco

CAIR San Francisco Bay Area

National Harm Reduction Coalition

Chinese for Affirmative Action

Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC)

Max Carter-Oberstone, Vice-President, San Francisco Police Commission

Small Business Forward

Ahsha Safaí, Supervisor (District 11)

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area

FREE SF Coalition

Bernal Heights Democratic Club

Drug Policy Action

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus

District 3 Democratic Club

Secure Justice

Immigrant Legal Resource Center

The Race & Equity in all Planning Coalition (REP-SF)

Paid for by No on Measure E, Sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. Committee’s Top Funder: American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California Issues Committee ($200,000) – contributors include American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California ($200,000). Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.

Vote No on San Francisco Proposition E

Page Media

Prop E would reduce use-of-force reporting requirements.

Prop E would expand secret police surveillance.

Prop E would increase dangerous, high-speed police car chases.

Prop E would weaken independent police oversight by binding the hands of the Police Commission.

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