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

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

Early Voting Begins Today for April 8 Special Congressional Open Primary
Sample Ballots Pamphlets and Official Vote by Mail ballots are in the mail

Redwood City, CA – Voters can begin casting ballots today for the April 8 Special Congressional Open Primary in the 12th Congressional District, and Vote by Mail voters could be receiving their official ballots as soon as tomorrow.

Beginning today and through April 8, voters in the 12th Congressional District may vote during normal business hours at the Universal Voting Center at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo. Voters can choose to either vote electronically on an eSlate or by paper ballot.

This also marks the first day that official ballots can be mailed to voters who are already signed up to vote by mail. Voters could begin receiving them as early as tomorrow, though most will likely receive them sometime next week. The Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlet was mailed earlier this week, and voters in the 12th Congressional District should receive it soon if they have not already.

The Special Congressional Open Primary is being held to fill the seat of the unexpired term of U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, who died on Feb. 11. As an open primary, all candidates will appear on one ballot. All voters will receive the same ballot and can vote for any one candidate regardless of political party affiliation. This election is for the term which ends on Jan. 3, 2009. It is separate from the election in the June 3 Statewide Direct Primary, which is for the 2009-11 term.

The certified list of candidates appearing on the April 8 ballot can be found at http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/Special/cd12/cert_list.pdf.

For voters looking for a fast and easy way to cast their ballot and avoid the hassle of Election Day, early voting is an attractive option.

“There will be no lines and any voter, from any precinct in the 12th Congressional District, can come in and vote early,” San Mateo County Chief Elections Office Warren Slocum said. “I encourage everyone to make their vote a priority. Don’t wait until Election Night when you might have to work late and fight traffic.”

For the Feb. 5 Presidential Primary, about two percent of voters voted early at a Universal Voting Center and more than 45 percent – almost 96,000 – cast their ballot via Vote by Mail.

“Vote by Mail simplifies your life, and nearly one out of two voters recognized that in February’s primary election,” Slocum said. “Voters can decide when and where they want to vote. Vote at work, at the kitchen table, or with a cup of coffee on Saturday morning!”

Registered voters who are not already signed up to vote by mail, who wish to vote by mail for the April 8 election, must complete an application. Obtain one online at www.shapethefuture.org, call the Elections Office at (650) 312-5222, or fill out and mail or fax back the form on the back cover of your Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlet. Voters may also fax or mail a written request to vote by mail to the Elections Office containing their full name, residence address, mailing address for ballot (if different from residence address), name and date of the election the Vote by Mail ballot is for, and signature. Requests can be mailed to 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402 or faxed to (650) 312-5348.

At the time of their application, voters can indicate whether they wish to vote by mail for this election only or to become a Permanent Vote by Mail voter for this and future elections. San Mateo County has more than 137,421 permanent Vote by Mail voters.

Mailed, faxed or online requests to vote by mail for the April 8 election must be received by the Elections Office no later than 5 p.m. on April 1. A postmark is not acceptable.

Vote by Mail ballots can be returned in the mail, at your local city hall within the 12th Congressional District in San Mateo County or at the Universal Voting Center. On Election Day, Vote by Mail ballots can be dropped off at any active polling place in the county. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.