With 6 days to go before the early voting period for the Primary Election in San Mateo County begins, with the opening of three Polling Places in San Mateo, Redwood City and South San Francisco, there are details you need to know to make your voice heard and make decisions that
On June 7, 2022, California's primary elections will be held, in which voters will be able to cast their ballots for candidates for U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer.
As well as Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, State Board of Equalization member, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, U.S. Representative in Congress, State Senator, State Assemblyman, and other local candidates.
In this "primary" election, voters will choose the candidates who will go on to the "general" election in November, and the district in which you live is decisive in choosing the candidate for whom you will cast a vote.
But, how do I vote in the San Mateo County Primary Election?
This year there are more options to vote easily and securely. The biggest change is that all registered voters in California will receive a ballot in the mail about a month before the election.
There are 3 ways to vote. You can return the ballot with your votes by mail, drop it off at a polling place with ballot boxes, or go vote in person at the polling place.
San Mateo County Primary Election Mail-In Balloting
If you already have your San Mateo County Primary Election ballot, return it as soon as you have filled it out and cast your choice. Postage stamps are not required. Follow the instructions on the ballot marking your choices, check the return envelope for your name, insert your ballot and seal the envelope securely.
Sign the envelope and date the back of the envelope and drop it in a drop box. Remember that it must be mailed no later than June 7, the day of the election.
Deposit your ballot
If you choose to cast your Primary Election ballot in San Mateo County instead of mailing it in, you must place it in the special boxes at the various polling places in the county by 8:00 p.m. on June 7. For details and polling places, you can access the following site www.caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.
Vote in person
If you prefer to exercise your right in person, you can do so by going to one of the voting centers, where you can fill out a ballot and deposit it, vote with a special voting machine and receive assistance and electoral materials in several languages.
Remember that early voting will be available at some locations prior to Election Day; look for early voting locations and on-site ballot drop-off boxes. www.caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov. And your polling place at www.findmypollingplace.sos.ca.gov.
Voters must be registered in the electoral system in order to make their decision.
Interested and eligible citizens may register at any time, but in order to qualify to participate in the upcoming elections, the registration form must be completed and submitted in writing. voter registration must be submitted online by midnight at the latest 15 days before the election, that means that those who wish to participate must submit their registration by Monday, May 23.
If you mail a Voter Registration Form, it must be postmarked ?cancel postmark? no later than 15 days before the election and received by the San Mateo County Elections and Registration Division by the close of the polls on Election Day ?June 7?
You may register to vote in the Primary Election in San Mateo County if you meet all of the following requirements:
- U.S. Citizen
- California Resident
- Be at least 18 years of age on or before election day
- Not currently serving a state or federal prison sentence for a felony conviction
- Not being barred from voting for a court due to mental incompetence
If you do not know your voter registration status, you can call the San Mateo County Elections and Registration Division at 650.312.5222, where they can help you find out your status if you need a registration form sent to you.
To register by mail, a voter must complete a registration form and return it to the San Mateo County Elections and Registration Division. Forms are available at public libraries, city and county offices, California Department of Motor Vehicles offices and U.S. Post Offices.
It should be noted that you need to re-register to vote when you have changed your name - or if you want your name to match your driver's license -, change your address, or want to change your political affiliation.
If you miss the deadline to register to vote, no problem, go to any polling place, register right there and vote!
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