Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections

January 25, 2008

Contact:
Warren Slocum, Chief Elections Officer
Phone: (650) 363-4988 E-mail: wslocum@smcare.org

Aternate:
David Tom, Elections Manager
Phone: (650) 312-5222 E-mail: dtom@smcare.org

Deadline is Tuesday to Request Vote by Mail Ballots through the Mail
Jan. 29 is also the deadline for Decline to State voters who vote by mail to exchange nonpartisan ballots through the mail

Redwood City, CA – Voters who wish to vote by mail in the Feb. 5 Presidential Primary must ensure their mail, fax or online request to have a ballot mailed to them is received by the Elections Office no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29. This also marks the deadline for Decline to State voters who vote by mail and opt for a Democratic or American Independent ballot to have spoiled and mailed back their nonpartisan ballot.

After Jan. 29, all requests will have to be made in person at the Elections Office.

“I want to make sure that every voter who wishes to vote by mail has the opportunity to do so,” San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum said. “Almost 43 percent of San Mateo County’s voters have already opted for a Vote by Mail ballot this election.”

All mailed, faxed or online requests to vote by mail must be received by the Elections Office by 5 p.m. on Jan. 29. A postmark is not acceptable; this deadline ensures postal delivery of ballots to voters in time for Election Day.

Requests to vote by mail can be made for the Feb. 5 Presidential Primary only, or to vote by mail permanently for this and all subsequent elections.

Voters can apply for a Vote by Mail ballot before 5 p.m. on Jan. 29 by:
·           Using the online form at http://www.shapethefuture.org/apps/vabr/default.asp;
·           Mailing or faxing the form on the back cover of their Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlet;
·           Mailing or faxing a written request with their full name, residence address, mailing address (if different from the residence address), date of birth, name and date of the election the      Vote by Mail ballot is for, and signature;
·           Downloading, printing, and mailing or faxing a completed PDF form found online at http://www.shapethefuture.org/absentee/absentee_ballot.asp.

All mail requests should be sent to 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402. All fax requests should be faxed to (650) 312-5348.
After Jan. 29, voters may still request a Vote by Mail ballot in person at the Elections Office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo or 555 County Center, 1st Floor in Redwood City from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
As of Jan. 25, almost 152,000 voters had requested a Vote by Mail ballot for the Feb. 5 Presidential Primary. Since the last Presidential Primary in 2004, this represents an increase of nearly 78 percent in the number of voters signed up to vote by mail.

Vote by Mail ballots must be received by the Elections Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. A postmark is not acceptable. If time is running short, ballots can be dropped off on Election Day at the Elections Office or any city hall or polling place in San Mateo County.

Jan. 29 at 5 p.m. is also the deadline for the Elections Office to receive spoiled nonpartisan ballots via mail from Decline to State voters who wish to vote a Democratic or American Independent party ballot for the Feb. 5 Presidential Primary instead. Again, a postmark is not acceptable; this deadline ensures that new ballots can be sent by the Elections Office and received by voters in time for Election Day.

Ballot exchanges after Jan. 29 will have to be made in person at the Elections Office or on Election Day at your polling place. All voters should check the location of their polling place, as many have changed.

Decline to State voters, also known as nonpartisan, are those who chose not to affiliate with any political party when they registered to vote. In San Mateo County, almost a quarter of registered voters are Decline to State. In California, it is up to each qualified political party to decide if they will allow Decline to State voters to participate in their primary.

For the Feb. 5 Presidential Primary, the American Independent and Democratic parties are allowing Decline to State voters the option to vote in their primaries. Unless they indicate a preference otherwise, Decline to State voters are automatically sent a nonpartisan ballot, which does not include presidential candidates.

“We suspect that many of our Decline to State voters will want to vote a partisan ballot this election,” San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum said. “Those who vote by mail only have a couple of days left to inform us of their choice by spoiling and returning their nonpartisan Vote by Mail ballot. Otherwise, they will have to make their request in person.”

No action is required for Decline to State Vote by Mail voters who wish to vote their nonpartisan ballot for the Feb. 5 Presidential Primary. Decline to State voters who vote at the polls on Election Day will inform a poll worker of their choice of ballot – American Independent, Democratic or nonpartisan – when they check in to vote.

Voters who have questions may call the Elections Office at (650) 312-5222, email registrar@smcare.org or visit our Web site at www.shapethefuture.org.

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