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 period to file as a write-in candidate for the June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election opens Monday, April 9, 2018. Eligible persons seeking to run as a write-in candidate must file a Statement of Write-in Candidacy and other documentation by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2018.
For County offices, documents for write-in candidacy are filed at the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division, 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402. Candidates are encouraged to contact Filing Officer, Michelle Yue, at 650.312.5293 or email her at myue@smcacre.org to schedule an appointment.
“Access to the ballot for candidates is expanded by the write-in process, and my office stands ready to assist all interested individuals with the filing requirements,” said Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.
Potential write-in candidates must file a Statement of Write-In Candidacy providing the candidate’s name and residential address, the candidate’s declaration of candidacy for a specifically named office and specific election date and a Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700). No filing fee or charge shall be required.
Information concerning qualified write-in candidates, including their names, will not be printed on voting materials provided to voters such as Official Ballot and Sample Ballot and Official Voter Information Pamphlet. However, the Roster of Candidates is updated every day and can be viewed online at www.smcacre.org. Additionally, a list of qualified write-in candidates will be available at Vote Centers beginning May 23.
New Election Model for June 5, 2018
The June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election will be the first election conducted under the California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA). The VCA will implement an All-Mailed Ballot/Vote Center model, with every registered voter receiving a Vote-by-Mail Ballot through the mail. The Vote-by-Mail Ballot may be returned by mail, dropped off at any Vote Center or Special Ballot Drop Boxes located throughout the county. Return postage will be prepaid for those voters wishing to return their ballots through USPS.
Vote Centers will replace traditional polling places and will be open for voting throughout the early voting period. Vote Centers will be providing expanded voter services such as voter registration, multilingual assistance, and disabled access voting options.
For more information on candidate filing, the California Voter’s Choice Act and the new All-Mailed Ballot/Vote Center election model, please call 650.312.5222, visit www.smcacre.org or follow us on Twitter @smcvote.