Deadline Ensures Time for Postal Delivery
September 2, 2021

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) Tuesday, September 7, is the final day that registered voters may request a replacement Vote by Mail ballot be delivered by mail for the September 14, 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election. The deadline ensures that there is enough time for postal delivery. After this date, all requests for a replacement Vote by Mail ballot must be made in person at one of San Mateo County’s Vote Centers. As a Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) County, as well as required per Senate Bill 152, all registered voters in San Mateo County received a ballot in the mail starting August 12, 2021.

To Request a Replacement Vote by Mail Ballot
Registered voters may request a Vote by Mail ballot by using any one of the following request options:

  • Submit your request online through the request form at www.smcvote.org – click the Request a Replacement button.
  • Request a Vote by Mail ballot over the phone by calling the Registration & Elections Division at 650.312.5222.
  • Prepare a written request, with your signature, stating your full name, residence address, mailing address (if different from your residence address), date of birth, and the date of the election for which the Vote by Mail ballot is requested (September 14, 2021). Fax to 650.312.5348 or email registrar@smcacre.org.

To Request a Vote by Mail Ballot After the Deadline
All requests for a Vote by Mail ballot after September 7 must be made in person at any of the County’s Vote Centers. Vote Center locations and hours are available at www.smcvote.org or call/text 650.312.5222 for information.

Ballot Pickup at Vote Centers
For this election, to reduce wait times, voters may request a replacement ballot for pick up before visiting a 29-Day Vote Center. Visit www.smcvote.org or call/text 650.312.5222 one day before pick up to submit a request and select from one of three locations for pick up. The Ballot Pickup service is available at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, 555 County Center, Redwood City, and 840 West Orange Avenue, South San Francisco. Once your ballot is ready for pick up, you will receive an email with location-specific instructions. The last day to place a request for a ballot pick up is Sunday, September 12.

Returning Your Voted Ballot
You may mail in your voted ballot to the Registration & Elections Division, or you may deliver it in person to any Vote Center. Forty-two Drop Boxes are also available throughout the County; ten Drop Boxes allow voters to drop off their ballots conveniently from their vehicles. For a full list of Drop Box locations visit www.smcvote.org or call or text 650.312.5222 for information.

Voted Mail Ballot Deadline
To be accepted, voted mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, September 14, 2021, and received no later than Tuesday, September 21, 2021.

Vote Centers Open for Labor Day Weekend
In addition to the regular weekday hours, Vote Centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

California Gubernatorial Recall Election Updates
The most comprehensive resource for San Mateo County election information is www.smcvote.org, which is updated frequently as Election Day approaches. For more information on voting services available for the California Gubernatorial Recall Election, please call or text 650.312.5222, visit www.smcvote.org or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @smcvote.

The Registration & Elections Division also offers a multilingual toll-free hotline, 888.SMC.VOTE (888.762.8683), to assist voters.

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