San Mateo County is on its way to become the first county in California to hold a countywide all-mailed ballot election, city officials announced Friday.
Forty-one cities, special districts and school districts in the county have approved a resolution for an all-mailed ballot election for the upcoming Nov. 3 consolidated municipal, school and special district election, according to city officials.
California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law assembly bill 2028 on Aug. 15, authorizing San Mateo County to conduct up to three elections wholly by mail in an all-mailed ballot pilot program, city officials said.
The bill requires every jurisdiction calling for an election to include the approval of the vote by mail in a resolution to the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State must receive the resolutions 88 days prior to the election. For the November election, the deadline is Aug. 7, city officials said.
In a statement, Chief Elections Officer and Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder Mark Church said conducting the November 2015 Local Consolidated Election by all-mailed ballot will be good for San Mateo County:
“It most likely will increase voter participation by as much as ten percent and save taxpayers close to $1 million.”
Polling places will be full voting centers with the ability to issue a ballot to any registered voter in the county. This will allow voters to go to any polling place in the county on Election Day, providing more in-person voting options than previous elections, according to city officials.
There will also be one drop off location in each city beginning 28 days before an election, city officials said.
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