Contact: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Alternate: Jim Irizarry, Asst. Chief Elections Officer & Asst. Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder

(Redwood City, CA) Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, announced today that active military personnel and citizens residing outside the United States who wish to participate in the November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election can receive their ballot through email, mail, fax or by accessing it online. “Our goal in every election is to ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot no matter where they are,” said Church.

Eligible San Mateo County voters include:

• A US citizen;
• At least 18 years old;
• Absent from your voting residence;
• Members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty;
• A spouse or dependent of a member of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine on active duty; or
• U.S. citizens living abroad, who may register and apply for a ballot by completing a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)

The FPCA form can be found at the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at www.fvap.gov or any U.S. Embassy. Eligible voters may also visit the California Secretary of State’s website, registertovote.ca.gov, to register as a military or overseas voter, as well as select to receive county voting materials in one of four languages: English, Spanish, Chinese or Filipino.

Another option for military or overseas voters in this election is the San Mateo County’s Remote Accessible Vote by Mail (RAVBM) System. Voters can enter their information at www.smcacre.gov/elections/my-election-info to access a link to their ballot. They can mark their selections and print both the completed ballot and the Oath of Voter form. These can then be returned either by fax to (650) 312-5348 or by mail.

In accordance with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), San Mateo County will mail ballots to military and overseas voters beginning September 6, 2024 through September 21, 2024. Due to potential disruptions in overseas mail services, voters are encouraged to use non-mail voting options. When returning a ballot by mail or fax, voters must include the completed Oath of Voter form.

The deadline for registered voters to request a mailed ballot is October 29. However, the Registration & Elections Division recommends that overseas voters request a mailed ballot by October 22 to ensure sufficient delivery time for the ballot and voting materials. Applications to receive a faxed or emailed ballot can be submitted now and up until Election Day. Ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. Pacific Time on Election Day, November 5, 2024, by fax or postmarked by November 5, 2024, and received by Tuesday, November 12 to be accepted. Overseas voters returning their ballots by mail are encouraged to send them as early as possible to ensure timely delivery.

Military and overseas citizens who do not expect to receive their ballot in time to meet the November 12, 2024 deadline, may use a backup ballot. The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) is available now at www.fvap.gov or any U.S. Embassy.

Early Voting Period Begins October 7 to November 4, 2024 
San Mateo County’s registered voters will start receiving their Vote by Mail ballots on October 7, 2024 for the November 5 2024 Presidential General Election.

Starting October 7, 2024, three Vote Centers will be open and remain available through Election Day. Additional Vote Centers will open on October 26 and November 2. 

For more information, please call or text the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division at 650.312.5222, visit smcacre.gov, or follow us on X and Instagram @smcvote.