@SFist Marina at 7:30 this morning. #ElectionDay #IVOTED pic.twitter.com/DDviCyFu9V

— KWolf (@Wolfkenn) November 8, 2016

Though early voting was at an all time high in San Francisco this year, that doesn't mean that your polling place will be empty but for some tumbleweeds. With a voter turnout as high as 80 percent predicted in some Bay Area cities and a long-ass set of state and local propositions to connect the lines on, lengthy lines of folks eager to cast their votes are expected. So, to all you day-of voters — have you ventured out to vote yet today? What was it like?

"San Francisco polling places citywide are open for voters from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m." today, SF's Department of Elections reminded the media in an email sent this morning. And if you arrive at 7:59 p.m., don't worry, as "any voter who is in line when the polls close at 8 p.m. is allowed to vote," they say. Just make sure you're in the right line, and confirm the location of your polling place at sfelections.org/pollsite or by calling (415) 554-4375.

All voters, regardless of voting place, can also cast their ballot at the City Hall Voting Center on the ground floor of City Hall. Early voters who still haven't mailed their ballots can also drop theirs off at the DoE's Ballot Drop-off Stations outside the entrances to City Hall or at any SF polling place. (You can still mail them, too, but they need to be postmarked with today's date and arrive by Monday November 14.)

The DoE tells the Chron that "More than 30 percent of registered voters in San Francisco have already submitted their ballot, the highest percentage of early voting in the city’s history." By Sunday night, 154,007 of the city's 513,444 registered voters had already sent theirs in. 345,575 total vote-by-mail ballots were issues, they say.

"I think we'll have the second highest number of people voting in the city's history in this election, November 2008 was the highest," DoE director John Arntz told ABC 7, with 81 percent voting that year.

Arntz tells the Chron that he expects turnout to "be above 73 percent but I don’t know if it gets to 81 percent."

Preliminary local election results will start rolling out at 8:45 tonight, with updates ongoing until the races are called. You have a multitude of options to follow the SF race, the DoE writes:

sfelections.org - all results reports will be posted on the Department’s website, with a link to statewide results on the Secretary of State’s website

San Francisco Government Television - SFGTV, Channel 26, will report summary results throughout the night as a banner during SFGTV programming

City Hall, North Light Court - a large screen will display SFGTV programming that will show summary results; printed copies of the summary results reports will be available at approximately 8:45 p.m., with updates available at approximately 9:45 p.m., 10:45 p.m., and 11:30 p.m.

Department of Elections, City Hall, Room 48 - printed copies of results reports will be available at the Department’s front counter (due to their length, the preliminary Statement of the Vote will not be printed).

On Twitter @sfelections and Facebook.com/sfelections

But I'm getting ahead of myself — right now, I'm wondering what things are like on the ground for voters casting ballots in their local polling places. How was it where you voted? Tell your tale in the comments, drop me a line, or send pictures (no ballot selfies, please! Keep it legal!) to eve@sfist.com, and I'll continuously update this report with what I'm hearing.

Related: Here's What You Need To Know Before Voting For The Dozens Of State And Local Propositions

After months of editorial and social media support-building, BART's Board of Directors officially agreed Thursday to place a $3.5 billion bond measure intended to repair an infrastructure they describe as outdated, dilapidated, and desperately in need of an overhaul in front of Bay Area voters. But according to polls taken over the course of the last few months, support for the measure is shrinking, not growing.

Because you are reading this, it's unlikely that you're surprised to hear that BART is in crappy shape, with frequent service outages that BART, themselves, says is because "much of our system has reached the end of its useful life."

According to the 44-year-old transit agency, the bond measure will allow them to repair 90 miles of deteriorating tracks, outdated speed control devices, and other aging equipment. In a move that surprised no one, their Board unanimously approved the measure last week.

Planned for the November ballot in in San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, the bond measure isn't necessarily a done deal. Just because it's on the ballot doesn't mean it'll pass, something BART's Twitter guy acknowledged during one of the agency's meltdowns in March.

"Public funding doesn't just appear like freshly fallen snow. Voters have to approve it. In California, approval for new funding is particularly difficult due to Proposition 13, a sweeping 1978 constitutional amendment that requires a two-thirds supermajority vote to pass any kind of revenue-raising measure," BART Tweeter Taylor Huckaby wrote earlier this year.

"Practically speaking, this means that 36 percent of the population can foil the will of the other 64, and tactically speaking, large-scale infrastructure investment measures become nigh-on impossible in non-presidential election years. Plus, public institutions are prohibited by law to advocate for their own bond measures."

But, since this is a presidential election year (in case you hadn't heard, ha ha), BART will get their money, right? Not so fast, reports Matier and Ross.

According to polling done by BART in January, the measure had "66 percent support out of the gate — rising to 77 percent after voters hear how the bond would help BART."

But that support "dropped to 69 percent, however, when homeowners were told the bond would raise their property taxes anywhere from $30 to $55 a year."

The news got worse for BART in a more recent poll from SF's Chamber of Commerce, in which the bond got a 61 percent vote in favor.

Then there's a third poll commissioned by Senator Steve Glazer, one of the loudest critics of BART's policies, management, and spending. In his poll, only 43 percent of the folks in his district, which encompasses Contra Costa and part of Alameda Counties, were supportive of the measure.

For the measure to pass, M&R report, BART will need "two-thirds cumulative vote in the three counties." Will they get it? Not according to the (admittedly biased) Glazer, who says that, at least in his neck of the Bay Area woods, "It's going to be a tough sell."

Related: Man Behind BART's Honest Tweets: 'Public Transit Has Always Been About Politics'
BART's Actually Gotten More Reliable Over Last Seven Years, Not Less — Are They Just Crying Poverty?
BART Having Come-To-Jesus Moment About Where It's Been Spending Its Money

After seemingly decades of campaigning, it all comes down to these last few hours. If you haven't yet sent in an absentee ballot or voted early at City Hall, get to your polling place and exercise the democratic rights that so many have fought to win and preserve. If you aren't sure where to vote, here's where to find your polling place. If you are still undecided on any of the myriad city and state initiatives, here is the official state Voter Information Guide and some more helpful analysis from KQED and SFist.

And once you've voted, here's some lovely theme music from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers during the agonizing wait for results.

Who shall giddily get to call NOPA their domain, but profess to care more about Western Addition? Decide for yourself next Monday, June 25th, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pizza Inferno where your D5 candidates will appear that night to vie for your vote. (Fact: all crucial political decisions happen at pizza parlors.) Who will win? No idea. Presumably Christina Olague since she already has the gig? But who can say for sure. Oh, that's right: you can!

Pizza Inferno: 1800 Fillmore (at Sutter)

With Election Day less than a day away, you might be asking yourself, "Holy hell, where's my polling station? I want to vote. Why is my life is such a mess!" Well, fret no more. We've got you covered on one end. Vote411.org's poll finder can help you find your polling station with little fuss or muss. For example, your editor plugged in his address info and saw that, once again, his polling station is at 450 Bryant. Delightful.

Psst, you must be registered in order to vote in California. Finding your polling place does not mean you are registered to vote. To confirm your status, go here, find your state, and get your act together. However, if you haven't registered yet, you're too late. Thee deadline to vote in California is 15 days before each local and statewide Election Day.

Update: Well, how about them apple. According to SF Dept. of Elections, "The Vote411.org site shows the polling places from the November 2010 election. To find your correct polling place for tomorrow, please use the Department of Elections' polling place look up tool - www.sfelections.org/pollsite"

The House voted today to repeal the U.S. military's ban on LGBT service. Wednesday's vote, 250-175,"propels the issue to the Senate for what could be the last chance for now to end the 1993 law that forbids recruiters from asking about sexual orientation while prohibiting soldiers from acknowledging that they are gay."

"Now is the time for us to act," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and "close the door on a fundamental unfairness in our nation."

If the 'don't ask, don't tell' ban is not overturned this year, it "could relegate the issue to the back burner next year when Republicans, who are far less supportive of allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military, take over the House and gain strength in the Senate."

[AP]

While SFist will bring you election 2010 updates as soon as the numbers start rolling in, you can also keep track online. Behold: California state results page is a good option; here's the link for San Francisco's results. You can also watch live coverage on SFGTV on cable channel 26.

Other sites (SF Appeal, Bay Citizen, East Bay Express, SFGate, etc.) will have continuing coverage as well. Also, get out there and vote!

What with election day around the corner, we must tell you that today is the last day to register to vote in the November election. You can print out or complete the registration form here, or simply grab one at your local office, public library, City/County offices, and the dreaded DMV.. Completed forms must be postmarked or delivered to the county elections office no later than 7 p.m. Oct. 18. (Psst, vote no on Prop L, the sit/lie ordinance. Or do. But, seriously, don't. It's cruel and could earn you a seat in the lower rungs of Hell.) [Appeal]

Tomorrow, June 8, is election day. Wee. Here's your Voter Information Pamphlet & Sample Ballot (.pdf). Here's how others want you to vote. Here are your San Francisco election night parties. Also, SFist's Chris Jones will be here tomorrow with a rundown the election-ness. So, you know, God bless American by the dawn's early light, etcetera, and so forth. Oh, and watch your back for surprise sex while standing in your voting booth.

Want to vote in the June 8 gubernatorial primary election? Well, today (5/24) is the last day to register. That's right. Registration cards -- which you can obtain at any local election office, public library, post office, DMV or City Hall -- "must be submitted in person or through the mail." If you can't make it out, you can download the cards from the Secretary of State's site. Be sure to make your voice heard on June 8! It's your duty as an American citizen. (Speaking of which, once you register, jury duty will follow.) [via SF Appeal/BCN]

Do you love McLaren Park? Yes. Yes, you do. Would you like to see $30,000 in grant money go renovating McLaren Park? Yes. Yes, you would. Because it needs it.

However, in order for McLaren Park to receive loads of cash, you need to vote. Which is why the Bernal Heights Parents Yahoo sent out a request for you to elect the park to get the cash. How can you vote? By going here. Now. (Disclosure: you need to fill out a simple, harmless form on the Sears site with your first name, last name, e-mail address and date of birth - all of which you can use fake information. So, you know, just do it.)

Here are some of the problems with the park that need serious patchwork:

Parts of the park are in clear need of beautification and renovation. The Burrows and Gambier St. site is one of the most glaring examples of deterioration. Instead of an inviting entrance to acres of green space, the area is a sad reminder that the neighborhood lacks a well-maintained park. The grass is patchy and there is no real landscaping to speak of. Where a playground once thrived, now sits a dirty sand pit that parents are afraid to let their kids play in because dogs use it as a bathroom.

Oh, God. The ladies at opened up nominations for their "2009 style council." That is to say, you get to vote from this pool of candidates for most stylish person in San Francisco. While all of them are worthy candidates, you will probably recognize 0.00 of these locals with faces full of fashion. But you should still vote for one (out of 80) of them here. (Tip: don't vote for any candidate sporting severe bangs or anything looking back to the '80s.) The winner gets a spread in the 7x7 September fashion issue. May God be with them. In related news, the SF Fashion Awards happen later this month. Isn't that adorable?

Girl Scout cookies season is upon us, and we are all better for it. Well, most of us are. A gaggle of Burlingame Girl Scouts were injured earlier this month after a truck plowed into them while hawking cookies. And this North Carolina scout who got busted for successfully promoting her goods on YouTube. (The Girl Scouts have a ban on Internet sales in order to protect the girls' safety.)

The most popular cookie? Samoas. Which should come as no surprise. These gems make up 25% of their sales.

But what say you? What Girl Scout cookie is your favorite? Let us know by voting for your favorite after the jump.

We just got word about something cool. Well, cool insofar as local politics is cool, which? Not so much. But for those of you confused by who is up for what in which district, Rich Bartlebaugh sent us info on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors candidate Google Video Map. Don't know who to vote for? This will help you out.

Basically, it points out who is running for supervisor in which district (i.e., 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11), gives us their addresses (D1's Nicolas Belloni, D4's David Ferguson, and D9's Eric Storey wouldn't reveal their addresses, so they're stuck out at sea), and links to said candidate's YouTube pick-me-please video.

We recommend you voting for the most telegenic one. Have at it, voters.