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

Aternate:
David Tom
Phone: (650) 312.5222 E-mail: dtom@smcare.org

Sample Ballots Arriving Soon in San Mateo County Mailboxes

It takes about a week to reach all voters

(Redwood City, CA) “The Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlets will begin to be mailed today to only 310,000, out of more than 350,000, San Mateo County voters since this is the first time in recent memory that not every voter will participate in the November Election,” said Warren Slocum, Chief Elections Officer for San Mateo County. It takes approximately one week to deliver the official election materials to all voters. Every voter will receive his or her own personal copy for the Consolidated Municipal, School and Special District Election on November 6th.  

There are a total of 126 different versions of the November ballot (42 versions in three languages—English, Spanish and Chinese). State and federal laws created to protect civil rights, ensure fairness, and offer voters more choice have contributed to the comprehensive nature of election materials for voters. 

The San Mateo County Sample Ballot & Official Voter Pamphlet publication contains a helpful sample ballot, candidate statements, local measures, information on how to vote, information on voting by mail, information on the location of a voter’s polling place and a vote by mail application form.  “We encourage voters to review the materials, make their choices and use it as a reference guide,” said Slocum.

One important note is that not every candidate is listed in the publication. Local candidates may publish a 200-word statement for a fee if they choose to place it in the Official Voter Information Pamphlet. “Candidate statements help voters make judgments about who and what to vote for; we print the information just as we receive it,” said Slocum. “The Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlet is an excellent source for fair, free, in-depth information on the issues and candidates for citizens. We also publish this information online at the Elections website, www.shapethefuture.org.”

Visually impaired voters can request a copy of the San Mateo County Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Guide on audio tape. “As a practice, we make voting as accessible as possible so that everyone has a voice in the democratic process,” said Slocum.

If you have any questions regarding the County’s Sample Ballot delivery schedule, please call the Elections Division at (650) 312.5222 or e-mail registrar@smcare.org.