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 that the first ballots will be sent out to the military and overseas voters today, Friday, March 17 for the May 2, 2023 Millbrae School District Special Mail Ballot Election.  The early distribution is pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) requiring ballots sent to these groups of voters between 60 to 45 days prior to Election Day.

“Our goal in every election is to ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot no matter where they are,” said Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.

Under the UOCAVA, voters who are:

• A US citizen;
• At least 18 years old;
• Absent from your voting residence;
• Members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty,
• A 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, or
• US citizens living abroad temporarily or permanently,

may register and apply for a ballot by completing a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) at the Federal Voting Assistance Program website www.fvap.gov, or any U.S. Embassy.

Eligible voters may also go to the California Secretary of State’s website registertovote.ca.gov to register as a military or overseas voter, as well as select to receive voting material in one of four languages – English, Spanish, Chinese or Filipino.

When registering as a uniformed or overseas voter, the voter will need to choose to receive a ballot by email/online, fax or mail. Ballots received by email or online must be printed then selections are marked.  Under California law, while voters may receive a blank ballot by email, they may not return a voted ballot by email.  However, if they believe their voted ballot will not reach our office in time to be counted, they may return it by fax at 650.312.5348.

Another voting option, available to all voters, is San Mateo County’s Remote Accessible Vote by Mail (RAVBM) System.  It is available from April 3, 2023 through Election Day, May 2, 2023.  The RAVBM System allows voters with access to a computer, printer and the internet to enter their information at www.smcacre.org/elections/myelectioninfo to access a link to their ballot.  Voters mark their selections and print their completed ballot along with an Oath of Voter form.  Voters may return a RAVBM ballot by mail, to a drop box or to the Vote Center.

Pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), San Mateo County will mail overseas and military ballots between 60 to 45 days prior to Election Day.  They will be mailed on March 17, 2023.  To avoid possible overseas mail service disruptions, non-mail voting options are encouraged.

The final day for registered voters to request a mailed ballot is April 25, 2023.  The Registration & Elections Division advises overseas voters to request a mailed ballot no later than April 18, 2023, to allow adequate delivery time for ballot and voting materials.

Applications to receive a faxed or emailed ballots may be submitted now and up to and including Election Day.  Ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. Pacific Time on Election Day, May 2, 2023, by fax (military and overseas voters only) or postmarked by May 2, 2023, and received by Tuesday, May 9, 2023, to be accepted.  Overseas voters returning their ballots by mail are encouraged to return them as early as possible to arrive on time.

Military and overseas citizens using the mail may vote using a backup ballot if they do not believe they will receive their ballot in time to return it and meet the May 9, 2023, deadline.  The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) is available now at www.fvap.gov or any U.S. Embassy.

Voting Period Begins on April 3 and Ends on May 2
Millbrae School District’s registered voters will receive a ballot in the mail in early April.  In-person voting starts April 3 at the Registration & Elections Division.  For more information on the May 2, 2023 Special Mail Ballot Election, please call or text 650.312.5222, visit www.smcacre.org, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @smcvote.