Redwood City, CA – Voters who wish to Vote by Mail in the April 8 Special Congressional Open 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, April 1, 2008.

After April 1st, all requests will have to be made in person at the Elections Office located at
40 Tower Road, San Mateo.

“I want to encourage every voter that would like to vote by mail to sign up today,” San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum said. “Almost 23 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 April 1, 2008. 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 one-time, for the upcoming Special Congressional Open Primary, or they can be requests to permanently vote by mail in this and every subsequent election.

Voters can apply for a Vote by Mail ballot before 5 p.m. on April 1 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 April 1st, voters may still request a Vote by Mail ballot in person at the Elections Office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Monday through Friday through Election Day. Voters may also cast their ballot on the eSlates that are set up at the Elections Office to facilitate voting.

As of March 26, 110,848 voters in the 12th Congressional District have requested a Vote by Mail ballot for the April 8 Special Congressional Open Primary, the election that will fill the unexpired term of office due to the death of Congressman Tom Lantos.

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 the 12th Congressional District.

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.