🗳️ Playbook for voting

Hope you're hanging in there. It's Thursday and we're almost through this heat wave.

Today's weather: High in the mid-80s, low around 60.

Today's newsletter is 747 words — a 3-minute read.

Mail-in ballots will be arriving soon, and we've put together a guide to help you stay informed ahead of Election Day.

Why it matters: Although the presidential race is pretty much locked in for left-leaning California, there are plenty of hotly contested propositions and local races to watch.

How to vote

💌 The last day to register to vote and receive a ballot by mail is Oct. 21.

• Starting Oct. 7, you can drop your ballot off in person at the City Hall Voting Center, an official ballot drop box across the city or at a polling place by 8pm on Election Day. You can also return your ballot by mail as long as it's postmarked on or by Nov. 5.
• The voting center will be open 8am-5pm on weekdays, 7am-8pm on Nov. 5 and 10am-4pm during the weekends of Oct. 26-27 and Nov. 2-3.

🗳️ To vote in person, find your nearest polling place.

• Polls will be open 7am–8pm on Nov. 5.
• As long as you're in line by 8pm, you'll be able to cast your vote.

We've broken down some of the top races and ballot measures and will update this page leading up to Election Day.

🏛️ Mayor

The mayoral race is expected to be the most closely watched here this election cycle.

• Mayor London Breed is up for re-election, but she faces a formidable slate of challengers as San Francisco grapples with a bevy of issues, including a drug overdose epidemic, a homelessness crisis, the need to build more housing and a struggling downtown.

Go deeper: Meet SF's leading mayoral candidates

⚖️ District attorney

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins faces one challenger in her re-election bid: Alameda County prosecutor Ryan Khojasteh, whom Jenkins fired as part of an administration change after inheriting the office from Chesa Boudin.

Go deeper: Here's what to know about the contest

👀 Supervisors

Supervisor seats for odd-numbered districts are up for election this year. Check out our primer for each race.

📋 Propositions

San Franciscans will vote on 15 local ballot measures and 10 state ballot measures on Nov. 5.

• That includes propositions to approve a school improvement bond, create an inspector general position, improve police staffing and make it easier for local governments to fund housing projects.

Go deeper

🚙 Footage of a San Francisco woman trapped in a stalled Waymo as two men attempted to get her phone number has reignited concerns about passenger safety in self-driving cars. (SF Chronicle)

🍎 The San Francisco Unified School District faces scrutiny over its staffing shortage of over 250 special-education positions. (SF Examiner)

🐼 Mayor London Breed asked OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff to help fund a $25 million panda "smart home," according to letters obtained by zoo advocate Justin Barker. (SF Standard)

🧵 The award-winning Fabric Outlet located in the Mission plans to permanently close on Nov. 23 after nearly 30 years. (Mission Local)

Flexible work just got better for over 7 million people.

Here's why: Uber's new features are designed to help make the driver and courier experience safer, fairer and easier.

• One feature, Record My Ride, allows drivers to record trips with their smartphone instead of investing in a dashcam.

Temperatures come back down a bit this weekend, so grab your sunscreen and check out the carousel of events happening around town.

• Here are a few on our radar.

😂 Killing My Lobster's 'J'Accuse!'

• This sketch comedy boasts the tagline "inspired, but not at all approved, by Agatha Christie." Join a cast of absurd Christie characters for an hour of murder-themed antics.
• 7pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Eclectic Box SF. Tickets start at $12.51.

🪕 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival

• Celebrate the beautiful weather with some fantastic folk music among the trees.
• 1-7pm on Friday; 11am-7pm on Saturday and Sunday at Hellman Hollow, Lindley and Marx meadows in Golden Gate Park. Free.

👻 Terror Vault: Fatal Abduction

• The immersive Halloween show, created by local legend Peaches Christ, is back at the SF Mint. A must see for spook fans!
• Open Wednesdays through Sundays until Nov. 3 at 88 5th St, with multiple showtimes available. Tickets start at $60.

🌮 Mission Taco Tour

• What is life if not one giant taco tour? Go self-guided ($17 for 5 taco tickets) or take a guided tour ($55 for 10 tickets).
• 2pm Friday in the Mission (self-guided tours available all day).

🥳 Castro Street Fair

• The fair turns 50 this year! Walk down Castro from Market for drag, line dancing, DJs and the SF Pride Band.
• 11am-6pm Sunday Castro and Market Streets. Free.

🐋 Whale watching

• True story: We saw whales at Fort Funston last week. The spouty boys are also popping off at Pacifica.
• Whenever the urge takes you!

Tell a friend

Uber aims to be the best platform for flexible work.

The strategy: Continuous improvements to the driver and courier experience.

How it's done: Drivers nationwide can now see enhanced rider verification, record rides from their phones, hold riders more accountable and more.

See what's new.

🧊 Shawna is eating ice by the masses.

🫠 Claire is slowly turning into a melted puddle of goo.

This newsletter was edited by Ross Terrell.