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 filing period for write-in candidates for the November 3, 2026 Statewide General Election opens today, September 8, 2026.
Eligible persons seeking to qualify as write-in candidates must file a Statement of Write-In Candidacy and all other required documentation no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Write-in candidacy documents must be filed with the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division, located at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402.
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 visit the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division in person to obtain and complete the form.
The completed registration form may also be returned by email to CandidateServices@smcacre.gov. Upon receipt, Elections staff will contact the potential write-in candidate to schedule an electronic or in-person appointment to complete the filing process.
For questions regarding the write-in candidate process and filing requirements, or to schedule an appointment to review the process, please email CandidateServices@smcacre.gov or call (650) 312-5222.
Individuals seeking to qualify as 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, when applicable, a Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700). All required documents must be filed at the same time. No filing fee is required.
The names of qualified write-in candidates will not be printed on the Official Ballot or in the Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlet. However, the Roster of Candidates, which includes qualified write-in candidates, is updated daily and may be viewed online at smcacre.gov. A list of qualified write-in candidates will also be available at Vote Centers beginning Friday, October 23, 2026.
Early Voting Period Begins October 5, 2026
All registered San Mateo County voters will be mailed a Vote by Mail ballot beginning in October 2026. Three Vote Centers will open for in-person voting beginning October 5, 2026, with additional Vote Centers opening throughout the early voting period and through Election Day, November 3, 2026.
For more information about the November 3, 2026 Statewide General Election, call or text (650) 312-5222, visit www.smcacre.gov, or follow us on X @smcvote and Instagram @sanmateocountyvote.