Contact: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Alternate: David Tom, Elections Division Manager

(Redwood City, CA) The ballot application period opens September 4 and will remain open through November 3 for newly registered military and overseas voters participating in the Consolidated Municipal, School and Special District All-Mailed Ballot Election.  “Current eligible voters, including military and overseas voters, will receive a mailed ballot without the need to apply because the election is being conducted by all-mailed ballot,” Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, explained.   

San Mateo County voters who are:

• Members of the Uniformed Services, Merchant Marine, on active duty
• Spouse or dependent of a member of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty
• Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• U.S. citizens living abroad

may register and apply for a ballot by completing a Federal Post Card Application form (“FPCA”).

The FPCA form is available at your local US Embassy or at the Federal Voting Assistance Program website www.fvap.gov.  You may also go to the California Secretary of State’s website www.registertovote.ca.gov to register as a military or overseas voter.

When you register, you may choose to receive your ballot by 1) email/online, 2) fax or 3) postal mail. Pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, San Mateo County will send your ballot between 60 and 45 days prior to Election Day.

“We respond promptly to all requests from military and overseas voters due to the natural challenges posed by overseas communication.  Our goal every election is to ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in the election.  The All-Mailed Ballot Election provides an opportunity to improve ballot accessibility for all San Mateo County voters,” Chief Elections Officer Church noted.

The deadline to register to vote in this election is October 19.  Registered overseas voters may submit an overseas ballot application up to and including November 3, if the voter wants to receive the ballot via email or fax. 

Further information for military and overseas voters is available from the Registration and Elections Division by calling 650.312.5222 or emailing registrar@smcare.org.

The press release is displayed in its original format. San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections website now resides at www.smcacre.org