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) The period to file as a write-in candidate for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election opens Monday, January 8, 2024. Eligible persons seeking to run as a write-in candidate must file a Statement of Write-In Candidacy and all other required documentation by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
Write-in candidacy documents for the county, school, and special districts are filed at the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division, located at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo.
City write-in candidates must file the paperwork with their respective City Clerk’s office.
County, school, and special district candidates may begin the filing process by requesting a registration form by email at CandidateServices@smcacre.gov. They may also schedule an appointment at smcacre.gov/appointments or walk in to obtain the form and may complete it in person. The form may also be returned via email to CandidateServices@smcacre.gov. Upon receiving the submitted form, our office will contact the write-in candidate to schedule an electronic or in-person filing appointment to complete the filing process.
Please email CandidateServices@smcacre.gov or call 650.312.5222 with write-in candidate questions and/or to schedule an appointment to review the write-in candidate process and requirements.
Potential write-in candidates must file a Statement of Write-In Candidacy, providing the candidate’s name and residential address, a declaration of candidacy for a specifically named office, the specific election date, and a Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700). All documents must be filed at the same time. No filing fee is required.
Information concerning qualified write-in candidates, including their names, will not be printed on voting materials provided to voters, such as the Official Ballot or the Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlet. However, the Roster of Candidates, including qualified write-in candidates, is updated daily and can be viewed online at smcacre.gov. Additionally, a list of qualified write-in candidates will be available at Vote Centers beginning Friday, February 23.
Early Voting Period Begins February 5 to March 4, 2024
San Mateo County’s registered voters will receive a Vote by Mail ballot in the mail starting February 5, 2024, for the March 5 2024 Presidential Primary Election.
Starting February 5, 2024, three Vote Centers will be open through Election Day. Additional Vote Centers will open on February 24 and March 2.
For more information, please call or text the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division at 650.312.5222, or visit smcacre.gov, or follow us on X (Twitter)and Instagram @smcvote.