February 3, 2025

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

(Redwood City, CA) Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder announced that starting Monday, February 3, the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division will begin opening and processing returned Vote by Mail ballots for the March 4, 2025 Special Election. The public and the media are welcome to observe these activities.

Election officials may open the return envelopes containing voted mail ballots beginning 29 days before Election Day. Envelopes will be opened and processed Monday through Friday in our office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo. Daily opening and processing will proceed from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Hours may change based on the number of ballots to process. Weekend processing will be added as needed.

For each ballot, an election official will first compare the voter’s signature on the outside of the envelope to the signature on the voter’s original registration application or other updated signatures on file from previous elections and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The ballot is separated from the envelope, once the signature has been verified, to preserve secrecy. The envelope is saved for the mandatory retention period, and the ballot is digitally scanned. The scanned ballots will not be counted or reported until the close of voting at 8 p.m. on Election Day, March 4, 2025.

Those interested in observing this process, or any other election process, may come to the Registration & Elections Division office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo at any time. Space is limited, and there may be a wait. Time-specific appointments may be made online by sending an email to ElectionObserver@smcacre.gov. Observers will receive a copy of the Election Observer Program Guidelines, which specifies observer rights, responsibilities and limitations, and a copy of the Vote by Mail Processing Procedures.

For more information regarding the Registration & Elections Division or the March 4, 2025 Special Election, please call or text 650.312.5222, visit smcacre.gov, or follow us on X @smcvote.  

Related Contacts

Mark Church

Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer
555 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063-1665Get Directions
Phone:
650.363.4988

Jim Irizarry

Asst. Assessor-Clerk-Recorder & Asst. Chief Elections Officer
555 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063-1665Get Directions
Phone:
650.363.4988