SF: Candidates, Activists Asking Voters To Turnout For Election

Activists and politicians alike have turned out at city bus stops and polling stations today to garner votes and increase overall voter participation among San Francisco residents.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, who turned in his vote Thursday to assure it was counted, has walked city streets and appeared at bus and Bay Area Rapid Transit stations throughout the day, spokeswoman Jennifer Pecrucione said.

Newsom, who is up for reelection today, handed out literature to voters in several neighborhoods, Pecrucione said.

Newsom will end his night at the Ferry Building at the end of Market Street for Election Day returns, according to Pecrucione.

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, elected in 2003 and up for reelection today, also made an effort to increase turnout with a call to city residents this morning, spokesman Jim Sterns said.

Harris voted at 9 a.m., according to Sterns, and has been handing out fliers and encouraging residents to vote at bus stops. At her appearances, Harris called for voters to get to their polling places and participate, Sterns said.

Another effort came in the form of a 40-foot bus running on vegetable oil, which will be traveling the streets of San Francisco today as part of a local group's efforts to increase youth voter participation.

League of Young Voters is touring San Francisco in the bus today passing out voter guides and encouraging registered voters to turn out at polling places, according to spokeswoman Heather Box.

Wired Rootz, an organization focusing on involving young people in politics, owns the bus the league is using. The bus began running at about 6 a.m. and will continue to stop near polling places until they close at 8 p.m., Box said.

In the voting guide, the League of Young Voters endorses Quintin Mecke as first choice for mayor, Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai as second choice, and "Chicken" John Rinaldi for third choice.

The bus was scheduled to stop at the Ferry Building at noon, San Francisco City College at 3 p.m., and at Justin Herman Plaza at 6 p.m., according to Box.

Today's municipal election in San Francisco asks voters to decide on candidates for city mayor, district attorney, and county sheriff. Voters are also asked to vote on 11 measures.