Redwood City, CA – San Mateo County’s Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum showcased California’s first online Track & Confirm feature that allows absentee voters check to see when their voted ballot arrived at the Elections Office. “We believe we are the first county in America to offer this election service,” Slocum said.

Slocum convened a group of San Mateo County voters over the summer to determine how their Elections Office could improve election information for voters and what would increase voter confidence in the voting process. “The absentee voters told us that voting by mail couldn’t be any easier, but they were never 100% sure that their ballot was received at the Elections by Election Day.”

“A lightbulb went off in my head! Why not provide absentee voters the option to go online to track and confirm that we received their voted ballot?” Slocum said.

“FedEx, UPS and USPS all offer their customers a package tracking system,” Slocum explained, “we simply used that model.”

“At Elections, we use barcodes on ballots for the purpose of comparing and confirming a voter’s signature with the signature on their voted absentee ballot,” said Slocum. This application uses that same barcode to advise a voter when an absentee ballot was mailed to them and when we received their voted ballot.”

Slocum explained how it works, “Voters log on www.shapethefuture.org, click on the Track & Confirm link and enter their street number, zip code and birth date. If we’ve received their ballot, it will confirm that we have it and show when it was received. If not, they will get additional guidance.”

Voting by mail has become extremely popular, not only in San Mateo County but across the state. In San Mateo County, there are 119,994 permanent absentee voters. That represents approximately 33 % of all registered voters (350,004).

“Recent surveys show that the primary reason somebody doesn’t vote is that they’re “too busy.” It’s also the primary reason that so many people have chosen to vote by mail,” explained Slocum.

“Voting by mail simplifies your life. It is so convenient. Election materials and ballots arrive in the mailbox approximately 30 days before an election. The voter can decide when they want to vote and where. Imagine -- voting at home, at the kitchen table, after the kids have gone to bed or whenever. Voters don’t need to worry about parking, traffic, bad weather or having to work late,” said Slocum.

“We want people to have as many options as possible and to participate regularly and fully in our democracy,” said Slocum. “Any registered voter can opt to vote by mail. They will need to fill out a very simple application (available on the back of the Sample Ballot or online at www.shapethefuture.org) or write us a letter making that request.”