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How to vote in San Mateo County

Here’s everything you need to know for the March 5, 2024 election in San Mateo County.

Vote by Mail (VBM)

Be sure to sign the return envelope. Your signature must appear similar to the original signature on your voter registration form. A Vote-by-Mail ballot without your signature will not be counted. Your Vote-by-Mail ballot can be returned by mail, dropped off at any Vote Center, or deposited in a ballot drop off box. Return your Vote-by-Mail ballot by March 5. Click here for more on VBM.

Every voter registered to vote by mail will be mailed a Vote-by-Mail ballot by February 5, 2024.

Ballot Drop Off Box (Hours vary)

Return your Vote-by-Mail ballot at a ballot drop off box before March 5, 8:00PM. Hours vary by location. Click here for a list of ballot drop box locations.

Vote In Person

No form of ID is needed to vote in person. You are not required to bring your Vote-by-Mail ballot to the Vote Center if you prefer to cast your ballot in person, but it is strongly encouraged. Click here for a list of Vote Centers.

Accessible Voting

The Registrar of Voters office provides the Voter Information Guide in an accessible format on the Voter Profile page. For accessibility questions, call (650) 312-5222 or visit https://www.smcacre.org/remote-accessible-vote-mail-system 

Provisional Voting

There are two circumstances in which you have a right to cast a provisional ballot in an election in California. First, if you believe you are registered to vote, but your name does not appear on the voter list at a polling location, you can vote provisionally. Second, if you voted by mail, but the county does not have a record of receiving your vote-by-mail ballot, you can vote provisionally. 

Any eligible voter, including those displaced by extreme weather and wildfires, can cast a provisional ballot at any polling location in the county, and that ballot will be placed in a special provisional envelope before being put in the ballot box. Only the races you are eligible to vote in will be counted. A provisional ballot will be counted after county election officials confirm that you are registered to vote and have not already cast a ballot in this election. 

Any voter who votes provisionally has a right to know whether their provisional ballot was counted. Click here to find the status of your provisional ballot. 

San Mateo County Registrar of Voters Location: 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402
San Mateo County Registrar of Voters Phone Number: 650-312-5222
San Mateo County Registrar of Voters Email: [email protected] 

County Website: https://www.smcacre.org/elections
Check Your Registration: https://couragecaliforniainstitute.org/voter-tools/
Track Your Ballot: https://couragecaliforniainstitute.org/#track