Voting Service Now Available to All Voters

In 2017, San Mateo County was the first county in California to deploy a Remote Accessible Vote by Mail (RAVBM) System for voters with disabilities. The State of California allowed all voters to use approved RAVBM systems as one of their voting options for the November 3, 2020 Presidential General Election due to COVID-19. This was later made permanent, meaning any voter may vote from home if they have a computer with internet access and a printer.

If a voter does not have a computer, internet access or a printer, this system is available at the Registration & Elections Division, 40 Tower Road in San Mateo as well as local libraries. Marked ballots must be returned to the Registrations & Elections Division by mail; they cannot be emailed or faxed unless you are a military or overseas voter.

The ballot is provided in a screen-readable format as the system was designed to allow voters with disabilities to independently and safely access, mark and print their ballot.

Ballots can be returned using the postage-paid return envelope which comes with a Vote by Mail ballot package or using a personal envelope. If the postage-paid envelope is used, the voter should sign on the provided space on the back. If a personal envelope is used, the voter must include a completed Oath of Voter form, which can be found on the instructions page with the personal Remote Accessible Vote by Mail link.