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

Decline-to-State Voters Who Vote by Mail Can Still Vote a Partisan Ballot
Here’s How…

Redwood City, CA – San Mateo County has approximately 83,000 Decline-to-State voters on its rolls, and nearly a third of them or roughly 26,000 are signed up to vote by mail.

Decline-to-State voters, also known as nonpartisan voters, 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.

In the Feb. 5 Presidential Primary, Decline-to-State voters may participate in the Democratic or the American Independent Party primary elections or vote a nonpartisan ballot. The other political parties are not allowing Decline-to-State voters to participate in their primaries.

“Decline-to-State voters may not realize that they can still vote a partisan ballot!” explained Warren Slocum, Chief Elections Officer for San Mateo County. “If they go to the polls to vote, they can exchange the nonpartisan ballot that was mailed to them for an alternate Democratic or American Independent ballot – when they check in to vote,” said Slocum.
All voters should check the location of their polling place, as many have changed.

Decline-to-State voters who wish to vote a partisan ballot must now do so in person. It’s too late to request one by mail. They can, however, exchange the nonpartisan ballot that was mailed to them for a Democratic or American Independent Party ballot in person at the polls on Election Day or at one of the Election Offices between now and Election Day.

“Lastly, if a voter lost or destroyed their Vote by Mail ballot, they can go to the polls (or the Elections Offices) and cast a provisional ballot. Once we verify their eligibility and that this is the only ballot they have voted, their ballot will be counted,” Slocum explained.

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.