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) Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, announced today the release of San Mateo County’s California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) Draft Election Administration Plan (EAP) for the period January 2024 to 2028. The Draft EAP will be published on the Registration & Elections Division website, www.smcacre.org. The EAP is a requirement of the VCA, providing the public with detailed information on the administration of elections under the law.
The VCA changed the traditional polling place election model to a Vote by Mail/Vote Center model with Vote Centers and Official Ballot Drop Box locations. San Mateo County was one of the first five counties in the state to conduct elections under the legislation beginning in 2018.
“The primary goal of this legislation is to expand accessibility and voting opportunities for all voters, particularly those with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency,” said Church. “Our Draft Election Administration Plan specifically addresses how we intend to accomplish this goal, and we welcome the public’s input on this plan.”
A virtual public meeting will be held to review the Draft EAP and the Voter Education and Outreach Plan on Thursday, August 24, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Microsoft Teams meeting link is available at https://smcacre.org/events. The meeting provides an opportunity for the local disability community and the language community to ask questions and provide feedback. Requests for interpreting services or other accommodations for the virtual meeting may be made by calling 650.312.5222 or email registrar@smcacre.org no later than four (4) business days prior to the meeting.
In addition to the virtual meeting, the VCA provides a 14-day comment period on the Draft EAP and the Voter Education and Outreach Plan following this meeting. The comment period will be from August 25 to September 8. Comments may be submitted via an online comment form, email to registrar@smcacre.org, or mail to the Registration & Elections Division, 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, 94402, fax to 650.312.5348, phone/text at 650.312.5222, 888.SMC.VOTE, or in person (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
The Draft EAP may also be reviewed on our public terminals at the Registration & Elections Division and the Office of the County Clerk-Recorder Division, 555 County Center, Redwood City.
The Registration & Elections Division may revise the Draft EAP and re-submit it to the public for comment as an Amended Draft EAP beginning September 9. A second opportunity for public comment will follow from September 9 to September 22. The final EAP is expected to be adopted on Friday, September 22, 2023.
For more information, call or text 650.312.5222, visit www.smcacre.org or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @smcvote.