Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections

January 17, 2008

Contact:
Warren Slocum, Chief Elections Officer
Phone: (650) 363-4988 E-mail: wslocum@smcare.org

Aternate:
David Tom, Elections Manager
Phone: (650) 312-5222 E-mail: dtom@smcare.org

Voter Registration for the Presidential Primary Closes Tuesday
Register to vote by the Jan. 22 deadline; Elections Office will be open until 8p.m.

Redwood City, CA – With the presidential primary season in full swing, San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum is reminding residents that Tuesday, Jan. 22 is the deadline to register or re-register to vote for the Feb. 5 Presidential Primary Election.

Slocum anticipates a rush of registration cards in the coming days, as registration activity has been at a record high.

“There is an enormous interest in the upcoming election and we expect a healthy increase in registrations at the deadline,” Slocum said. “As we approach Tsunami Tuesday, more people are eager to participate in our democracy. I encourage everyone to register to vote in this historic election.”

On Jan. 22, the Elections Office will extend its hours of business at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo and 555 County Center in Redwood City until 8 p.m. to accept last-minute registration forms.
“I want to provide citizens with as many possible options to allow them to exercise their right to vote,” Slocum said.

To be eligible to register to vote, a person must be:  (1) a U.S. citizen; (2) a San Mateo County resident; (3) at least 18 years old on Election Day; (4) not in prison or on parole for the a felony conviction ; and (5) not deemed by a court to be mentally incompetent to register and vote.
Voters are also required to re-register to vote if they have (1) moved; (2) changed their name; or (3) wish to change their political party affiliation. “If you are a Decline to State, non-partisan, or unaffiliated voters, you do not need to re-register to vote in the Democratic Party or American Independent Party races,” Slocum reminded.

Voter registration cards can be obtained from the Elections Office, as well as any public library, city hall, post office or DMV. Cards can also be downloaded from the Secretary of State’s Web site at http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm. Voter registration cards require an original signature and must be submitted in person or through the mail. A registration card postmarked on or before Jan. 22 will be accepted as meeting the registration deadline. 

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