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 that beginning Monday, October 6, the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division will commence the opening and processing of returned Vote by Mail ballots for the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election. The public and members of the media are welcome to observe these official ballot processing activities.

Election officials will begin opening the return envelopes containing voted mail ballots 29 days before Election Day. This process will take place Monday through Friday at our office, located 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 vary depending on the volume of ballots to process, and weekend processing will be added as necessary.

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, November 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. Due to a limited space, 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 November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election, please call or text (650) 312-5222, visit smcvote.gov or follow us on X @smcvote.