Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections

October 31 , 2006

Contact:
Warren Slocum
Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Phone: (650) 363-4988 Fax: (650) 363-1903 E-mail: wslocum@smcare.org

Alternate
David Tom
Phone: 650.312.5301 Fax: 650.312.5348 E-mai:l dtom@smcare.org

Processing of Absentee and Provisional Ballots for the November 7th Gubernatorial General Election Open to Observers

Redwood City CA – Warren Slocum, San Mateo County's Chief Elections Officer, announced that the Elections Office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo will begin the opening and counting of returned absentee ballot envelopes for the November 7th Gubernatorial General Election on October 31st as allowed by law.

The signature verification process is conducted as soon as the ballot arrives at the Elections Office.  This allows voters to verify if their ballot has been received quickly and easily through the Elections Office web site, www.shapethefuture.org .   Voters can use the look-up function on the website to confirm that their ballot was received by the Elections Office.

In accordance with the Elections Code, the opening and counting of the Absentee Ballots will commence on Halloween morning at approximately 8:30 a.m.  The results will not be tallied at any time before the close of polls on Election Day, 8:00 p.m. on November 7th.    

The processing and counting of Absentee Ballots and Provisional Ballots collected at the precinct polling places on Election Day are a part of the official canvass, which is open to the public and must commence no later than the Thursday following the Election.  “The canvass of votes is the most important and yet the least understood aspect of an election,” Slocum said.  This process will also take place at the Elections Division Office at 40 Tower Road.

Any person or organization interested in observing the election process may contact the Elections Division Manager, Mr. David Tom, at (650) 312-5222. 

For more information on applying for an absentee ballot, polling place locations or about Elections in general, visit www.shapethefuture.org or call (650) 312-5222.

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