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 active military and citizens living outside the United States who wish to participate in the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election may receive their ballot via email, mail, fax or access it online. “Our goal in every election is to ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot no matter where they are,” said Church.

Eligible San Mateo County voters include:

• 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; or
• U.S. citizens living abroad, who may register and apply for a ballot by completing a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)

The FPCA form is available 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 county voting materials in one of four languages – English, Spanish, Chinese or Filipino.

Another option for military or overseas voters this election is the San Mateo County’s Remote Accessible Vote by Mail (RAVBM) System. Voters may enter their information at www.smcacre.gov/elections/my-election-info to access a link to their ballot. Voters mark their selections and print their completed ballot along with an Oath of Voter form. You must sign and return the Oath of Voter form if you return your voted ballot by fax at 650.312.5348 or by mail in your own envelope. Voted ballots cannot be returned by email.

Pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), San Mateo County mailed overseas and military ballots between 60 to 45 days prior to Election Day. To avoid possible overseas mail service disruptions, non-mail voting options are encouraged. Voters must complete and enclose the Oath of Voter form when returning their voted ballot via mail or fax.

The final day for registered voters to request a mailed ballot is February 27. The Registration & Elections Division advises overseas voters to request a mailed ballot no later than February 20 to allow adequate delivery time for ballot and voting materials. Applications to receive a faxed or emailed ballots may be submitted now, up to, and including Election Day. Ballots must be dropped off at a Vote Center or returned by fax by 8 p.m. Pacific Time on Election Day, March 5, 2024. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by March 5, 2024, and received by Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 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 March 12, 2024 deadline. The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) is available now at www.fvap.gov or any U.S. Embassy.

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.

Three Vote Centers will be open starting February 5, 2024 through Election Day. Additional Vote Centers will open February 24 and March 2. 

For more information, please call or text the Registration & Elections Division at 650.312.5222, or visit smcacre.gov, or follow us on X (Twitter) and Instagram @smcvote.