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

Official Vote by Mail Ballots Have Been Delivered
Voters Encouraged to Vote Early

Would-be vote by mail voters encouraged to apply by October 30 deadline

(Redwood City, CA) San Mateo County's Chief Elections Officer, Warren Slocum, announced today that if you have permanently signed up to vote by mail, “You should have received your official ballot by now!” All official ballots for Vote By Mail voters have been mailed. Early voting in the Consolidated Municipal, School and Special District Election has begun.

“If you wanted to sign up to vote by mail, but never got around to it, it’s not too late!” Slocum explained. Applications to vote by mail will continue to be accepted through October 30, 2007. According to Slocum, over 40% percent, or 127,000 of the San Mateo County voters eligible to participate in this November’s election have already signed up to vote by mail (not all jurisdictions are participating in this election).

"Voting has never been easier or more convenient; I urge all eligible voters to join the effort to shape the future of their community," said Slocum.

“Voting by mail simplifies your life. Election materials and ballots arrive in the mailbox approximately 25 days before an election. The voter can decide when they want to vote and where. Picture this—voting at home, at the kitchen table, after the kids have gone to bed or with a cup of coffee on Saturday morning. Those who vote by mail don’t worry about parking, the price of gasoline, traffic, who is going to watch the kids, bad weather or having to work late, they vote when it’s convenient for them,” said Slocum.

Eligible voters wishing to vote by mail must file an application form by fax or mail to make that request. Applications are easy to obtain. Voters can: (1) Fill out the online form on the Elections website, www.shapethefuture.org; (2) call the Elections Office at (650) 312-5222 and request an application; or (3) fill out the pre-printed form on the back cover of the Sample Ballot Pamphlet that is mailed to all registered voters. A voter may also send a written request for an absentee ballot to the County Elections Office at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402, stating: (1) Voter's full name; (2) voter's San Mateo County residence address; (3) mailing address for ballot, if different from the residence address; and (4) name and date of the election the absentee ballot is for; (5) and the voter's signature. The application or the written request may be faxed to (650) 312-5348 (in lieu of mailing the original).

All mailed or faxed requests must be received (regardless of postmark) by the Elections Office not later than 7 days prior to the election, or 5:00 p.m. on October 30, 2007. “Requests to vote by mail will continue to be processed for the next two weeks,” Slocum said.

“I’d also like to reassure voters who choose to vote by mail that if they forget to return their voted mail ballot in time for postal delivery—all is not lost! Registered voters may drop off their voted mail ballot or cast their ballot in person at the Elections Office at 40 Tower Road or the satellite Elections Office at 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City during regular business hours,” said Slocum.

The offices will also be open on Saturday, October 27th and Saturday, November 3rd from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for voter convenience. Voting hours on Election Day are 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.