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 San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division, as part of its outreach program regarding the California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA), will hold a public meeting on December 10, 2019 to present information on its Elections Administration Plan (EAP) for the next four years and hear feedback from San Mateo County voters regarding the draft plan. The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. in the Board Chambers, located at 400 County Center, Redwood City. 

San Mateo County has held three elections under the VCA. Since the June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election, every voter has been sent a Vote by Mail ballot 29 days before Election Day. The ballot could be returned via mail in a postage-paid envelope or dropped off at any County Ballot Drop-off Box or Vote Center. Additionally, voters could cast their ballot in person at any of the Vote Centers throughout the County.

 “Since the implementation of the Voter’s Choice Act, we have seen increased turnout in voter representation amongst all groups, particularly Asian-American, Latino, and youth voters,” said Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder. “The updated EAP reflects broad community input and incorporates many of the successes learned during the 2018 elections,” added Church.

The draft EAP can be found online at www.smcacre.org. It can also be viewed in person at the Registrations & Elections Division Office located at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo. Voters who are not able to attend the public meeting may submit comments via registrar@smcacre.org, mail, fax, or phone no later than December 24, 2019 to be considered.

The hearing will be accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals who need special assistance or a disability-related modification or accommodation (including auxiliary aids or services) to participate in this meeting, or who have a disability and wish to request an alternative format for the agenda, meeting notice, agenda packet or other writings that may be distributed at the meeting, should contact the Registration & Elections Division at least 3 working days before the meeting at 650.312.5222 and/or registrar@smcacre.org. Notification in advance of the meeting will enable the Registration & Elections Division to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting and the materials related to it. Attendees to this meeting are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical-based products.

All-Mailed Ballot – Vote Center Election Model for March 3, 2020 Election
The March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election will be the fourth election San Mateo County conducts under the California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) model. It is the first Presidential Primary Election to be held under the VCA.

Traditional polling places have been replaced by Vote Centers, which will be open for voting for a greater period, and which will offer expanded voter services, including voter registration, multilingual assistance, and disabled access voting options. Every registered voter will also receive a Vote by Mail Ballot, which can be returned with no postage required in any mailbox, into secure ballot drop boxes, or Vote Centers located throughout the county.

For more information, call 650.312.5222, visit www.smcacre.org or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @smcvote.