Contact: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Alternate: Jim Irizarry, Asst. Chief Elections Officer & Asst. Assessor-Clerk-Recorder

(Redwood City, CA) Active military personnel and U.S. citizens living abroad who wish to participate in the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election may receive their ballot by email, mail, fax, or by accessing it online.

“Our goal in every election is to ensure that 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.

San Mateo County encourages voters to submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to request a ballot if they are:

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 through the Federal Voting Assistance Program at www.fvap.gov or at any U.S. Embassy. Eligible voters may also register as a military or overseas voter at the California Secretary of State’s website, registertovote.ca.gov. At the time of registration, voters may choose to receive election materials in one of four languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, or Filipino.

Another option available to overseas voters in this election is San Mateo County’s Remote Accessible Vote by Mail (RAVBM) system. Starting October 6, voters may visit www.smcacre.gov/myelectioninfo to access a secure link to their ballot. After making their selections, voters print the completed ballot along with the required Oath of Voter form. Both the ballot and the Oath of Voter form may then be returned either by fax at (650) 312-5348 or by mail.

In accordance with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), San Mateo County will send military and overseas ballots 45 days before Election Day. To help avoid potential delays with international mail delivery, voters are encouraged to use available non-mail voting options. When returning a voted ballot by mail or fax, voters must include the completed Oath of Voter form.

The deadline for registered voters to request a mailed ballot is October 28. The Registration & Elections Division recommends that overseas voters submit their request no later than October 21 to allow sufficient time for delivery of ballot materials.

Requests to receive a ballot by fax or email may be submitted up to and including Election Day, November 4, 2025.

All ballots must be returned by 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Election Day if sent by fax, or postmarked by Tuesday, November 4, 2025 and received by Wednesday, November 12, 2025 if returned by mail. Overseas voters who choose to return their ballots by mail are strongly encouraged to send them as early as possible to ensure timely delivery.

Military and overseas voters who are returning their ballot by mail may use a backup ballot if they do not expect to receive their regular ballot in time to meet the November 12, 2025 deadline. The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) is available now at www.fvap.gov or at any U.S. Embassy.

Please note: The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) has discontinued its digital fax service. Military and overseas voters (UOCAVA voters) can no longer send their voted ballot to fax@fvap.gov. Instead, voters must use an alternative fax service to return their ballot.

Ballots cannot be returned by email.

In addition, some countries have temporarily suspended or reduced mail service to the United States. Voters are strongly encouraged to plan their return method earlier than usual. To confirm whether mail service to the U.S. is currently available, please check with your local post office.

Voting Period Begins October 6 and Ends on November 4
All registered voters in San Mateo County will receive a ballot by mail in October. Beginning October 6, two of the county’s 15 Vote Centers will open for in-person voting.

For more information about the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election, please call (650) 312-5222, visit www.smcacre.gov, or follow @smcvote on X.