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

(Redwood City, CA) Active military and citizens living outside the United States who wish to participate in the November 8, 2022 Statewide General Election may receive their ballot via email, mail, fax or access it online.  “Our goal in every election is to ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot no matter where they are,” said Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.

Eligible San Mateo County voters include:

• A US citizen;
• At least 18 years old;
• Absent from your voting residence;
• 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; or
• U.S. citizens living abroad, who may register and apply for a ballot by completing a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)

The FPCA form is available at the Federal Voting Assistance Program website www.fvap.gov or any U.S. Embassy.  Eligible voters may also go to the California Secretary of State’s website registertovote.ca.gov to register as a military or overseas voter, as well as select to receive county voting materials in one of four languages – English, Spanish, Chinese or Filipino.

Another option for military or overseas voters this election is the San Mateo County’s Remote Accessible Vote by Mail (RAVBM) System.  Voters may enter their information at www.smcacre.org/elections/myelectioninfo to access a link to their ballot. Voters mark their selections and print their completed ballot along with an Oath of Voter form.  The ballot and form may be returned via fax (650.312.5348) or mail.

Pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), San Mateo County mailed overseas and military ballots between 60 to 45 days prior to Election Day.  To avoid possible overseas mail service disruptions, non-mail voting options are encouraged. Voters must complete and enclose the Oath of Voter form when returning their voted ballot via mail or fax.

The final day for registered voters to request a mailed ballot is November 1.  The Registration & Elections Division advises overseas voters to request a mailed ballot no later than October 25 to allow adequate delivery time for ballot and voting materials.  Applications to receive a faxed or emailed ballots may be submitted now and up to and including Election Day.  Ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. Pacific Time on Election Day, November 8, 2022, by fax or postmarked by November 8, 2022, and received by Tuesday, November 15 to be accepted. Overseas voters returning their ballots by mail are encouraged to return them as early as possible to arrive on time.

Military and overseas citizens using the mail may vote using a backup ballot if they do not believe they will receive their ballot in time to return it and meet the November 15, 2022 deadline.  The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) is available now at www.fvap.gov or any U.S. Embassy.

Voting Period Runs October 10 to November 8 
San Mateo County’s registered voters received ballots in the mail in October. Official Ballot Drop Boxes are open.  Vote Centers are currently open in San Mateo, Redwood City, and South San Francisco. For more information on the November 8, 2022 Statewide General Election, please call or text 650.312.5222, visit  www.smcacre.org, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @smcvote.