Overview

• San Francisco is enforcing stricter guidelines for candidates choosing Chinese names to appear on ballots, requiring proof of established use for at least two years.
• Previously, candidates, including non-Chinese ones, strategically selected Chinese names to appeal to the city's significant Chinese population.
• The move follows instances of candidates choosing names similar to their opponents or names that convey certain personality traits, seemingly to bolster their image.
• San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan urged the implementation of a 2019 state law to prevent cultural appropriation and misuse of Chinese names.
• Many established local public figures will be grandfathered in, as they already meet the two-year threshold.