Contact: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Alternate: Jim Irizarry, Assistant Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
(Redwood City, CA) San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Mark Church today submitted the County’s Election Administration Plan (EAP) for the implementation of the California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) to California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
The Secretary of State review and approval process of the Voter Education and Outreach Plan portion of the EAP will be completed by April 2, 2018. Once approved by the Secretary of State, San Mateo County’s EAP becomes the official plan for the administration of elections under the VCA.
“San Mateo County’s Election Administration Plan is the culmination of an extensive community review and input process spanning over the course of several months,” said Church. “I want to personally thank the voters of our county and all of our stakeholders that have participated in the development of the Voter’s Choice Act Election Administration Plan for their dedication and commitment to expanding voting opportunities for all.”
The VCA is landmark legislation which authorizes 14 counties, including San Mateo, to conduct any election as an All-Mailed Ballot/Vote Center Election commencing January 2018.
“San Mateo County is proud to be one of the first five counties in the state that will be conducting the June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election under the provisions of the California Voter’s Choice Act,” Church added.
San Mateo County’s EAP was developed with the goal of providing the public detailed information on the administration of elections under the VCA. It also incorporates the County’s Voter Education and Outreach Plan, outlining in detail the County’s plans to increase accessibility to all voters, particularly voters with disabilities and language minorities. The EAP was developed in consultation with members of the County’s Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC) and Language Accessibility Advisory Committee (LAAC).
New Election Model for June 5, 2018
The June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election will be the first election conducted under the VCA. The VCA will implement an All-Mailed Ballot/Vote Center model, with every registered voter receiving a Vote-by-Mail Ballot through the mail. The Vote-by-Mail Ballot may be returned by mail, dropped off at any Vote Center or Special Ballot Drop Boxes located throughout the county. Return postage will be prepaid for those voters wishing to return their ballots through USPS.
Vote Centers will replace traditional polling places and will be open for voting throughout the early voting period. Vote Centers will be providing expanded voter services such as voter registration, multilingual assistance, and disabled access voting options.
For more information on the VCA and the new All-Mailed Ballot/Vote Center election model, please call 650.312.5222, visit www.smcacre.org or follow us on Twitter @smcvote.