Voter Q&A

 

What’s the last date to register to vote and the last date to request a vote by mail ballot?

Voter registration closes 15 days prior to an election. Application for a vote by mail voter's ballot shall be made in writing to the elections official having jurisdiction over the election between the 29th and the 7th day prior to the election. The application shall be signed by the applicant and shall show his or her place of residence. You can request a vote by mail ballot or vote in person at the San Mateo County Elections Office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo or 555 County Center, 1st Floor, in Redwood City.

 

How long are the polls open?

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. All those waiting in line at 8 p.m. will be permitted to vote.

 

My vote by mail ballot hasn’t arrived. What should I do?

Go to San Mateo County’s official election site at http://www.shapethefuture.org/ to track your vote by mail ballot. If one has not arrived, you can call the Elections Office at (650) 312-5222 to request that a duplicate be sent. You may also request and vote a ballot at the Elections Office anytime within 29 days prior to an election.. Or you can vote in person at your usual polling place, which you can find on the Shape the Future Web site.

 

What’s the latest date I should mail my absentee ballot?

Your ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted. Postmarks do not count. For that reason, it’s best to mail your ballot well in advance of Election Day. If you’re not sure it will get there in time, you can take it to your usual polling place on Election Day or to the Elections Office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo or 555 County Center, 1st Floor, in Redwood City on or before Election Day. There are also ballot drop boxes in each City Hall in San Mateo County.

 

I’m not sure my vote by mail ballot was received. How can I make sure?

You can see whether your vote by mail ballot has been received at http://www.shapethefuture.org. If there is any question about whether the county has a record of your vote, you can request a Provisional Ballot at your usual polling place.

 

What happens if I mail my vote by mail ballot with insufficient postage?

The ballot will still be delivered to the Elections Office, it must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted; postmarks do not count. Voters should use the proper postage to avoid delays in delivery.

 

I usually vote at the polls but must be out of town. Can I still vote?

Yes. Whether or not you have a vote by mail ballot, you can vote anytime within 29 days prior to an election by going to the Elections Office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo or 555 County Center, 1st Floor, in Redwood City, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. The Elections Office will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

 

I have a vote by mail ballot, but I’m going to be away (or am ill or disabled) on Election Day. What should I do?

Vote by mail ballots include instructions on how to designate an “authorized agent” to return your vote by mail ballot for you. Or you can drive to the Elections Office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo and turn it in on or before Election Day. There are also vote by mail ballot drop boxes in each City Hall in San Mateo County.

 

Before I drop my vote by mail ballot in an authorized drop box, do I need to sign the return envelope in a different way?

No. Just sign in the signature box, as directed, and drop it in the box.

 

I made an error while marking my vote by mail ballot. What should I do?

If there’s still time to get another vote by mail ballot mailed, mark an “X” in the box on the upper right-hand side on the flap of the return envelope and return it to the Elections Office. Otherwise, take it in person to 40 Tower Road in San Mateo or 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City and request another ballot.

 

How can I find out more about how and where to vote?

Go to San Mateo County’s official voter information site, http://www.shapethefuture.org/, or the League of Women Voters site, http://www.smartvoter.org/.

 

On Election Night, how can I find out who won?

Got to http://www.shapethefuture.org for election results in San Mateo County. Remember to click on the “refresh” button for up-to-the-minute results.

 

Directions to the San Mateo County Elections Office, 40 Tower Road, San Mateo:

Take Highway 101 south to Highway 92 and go west on Highway 92. Take the Ralston Avenue exit toward Belmont. Turn right onto Ralston Avenue, which becomes Polhemus Road. Turn left onto Paul Scannell Drive, then make an immediate left onto Tower Road. The Elections Office is up a somewhat steep driveway on the right-hand side.