April 2, 2018

Contact: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Alternate: Jim Irizarry, Assistant Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder

(Redwood City, CA) The voting period for registered military and overseas voters begins April 6 and will continue through Election Day for the June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election.

Eligibility Criteria
San Mateo County voters who are eligible include:

  • Members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty;
  • A spouse or dependent of a member of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty;
  • Members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
  • U.S. citizens living abroad.

San Mateo County voters may register and apply for a ballot by completing a Federal Post Card Application form (“FPCA”).

Ballot Application Procedure
The FPCA form is available at any U.S. Embassy or at the Federal Voting Assistance Program website, www.fvap.gov. You may also go to the California Secretary of State’s website www.registertovote.ca.gov to register as a military or overseas voter. When you register, you may choose to receive your ballot by:

  • Email/online;
  • Fax; or
  • Postal mail.

Pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, San Mateo County will send your ballot between 60 and 45 days prior to Election Day. While the period to request a ballot to be mailed to you ends on May 29, registered military and overseas voters may submit an application to receive the ballot via email or fax up to and including Election Day, June 5.

“The early voting period ensures our military and overseas voters have timely access to their ballots,” said Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder. “Our goal every election is to ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in the election by providing alternative methods for receiving and returning their ballot while away from home.”

In addition, an Accessible Vote by Mail system is available during the early voting period, beginning May 7 through Election Day. Access to the Accessible Vote by Mail system is limited to voters with disabilities, overseas voters, military personnel, and military spouses. To access their ballot, voters click the Accessible Vote by Mail link at www.smcacre.org/MyElectionMaterials/. Voters can also call 650.312.5222 or email registrar@smcacre.org to request that a link to their ballot be emailed to them, or for assistance in accessing and using the system.

The deadline to register to vote in this election is May 21, 2018. However, as a result of changes in California Elections law, voters will be able to register and vote provisionally beyond May 21, 2018 up to and including Election Day. For more information on the June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election, please call 650.312.5222, visit http://www.smcacre.org or follow @smcvote on Twitter.

New Election Model for June 5, 2018
The June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election will be the first election conducted under the California Voter’s Choice Act (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 California Voter’s Choice Act 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

Related Contacts

Mark Church

Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer
555 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063-1665Get Directions
Phone:
650.363.4988

Jim Irizarry

Asst. Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Asst. Chief Elections Officer
555 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063-1665Get Directions
Phone:
650.363.4988