Register to Vote in San Mateo County, CA
Here's what to expect at the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections — fees, what to bring, and where to go.
Who keeps the roll in San Mateo County. California's code does not say which county office holds the register — Elec. Code § 320 names “a county clerk, city clerk, registrar of voters, or elections supervisor” and leaves it to the county. In San Mateo County we have not confirmed which of those it is; the number below is the office this page tracks and can redirect you.
There is no fee. Registration is by affidavit delivered to the county elections official (§ 2102(a)), and nothing in the chapter authorizes a charge.
An affidavit received on or before the 15th day before an election is effective for it (§ 2102(a)), and ordinary registration closes for the last 14 days (§ 2119(a)). But § 2170 provides conditional voter registration: in exactly those 14 days, and on election day itself, you may register and vote a provisional ballot at the county elections office or a vote center. The ballot counts once the county validates the registration.
Online, if you have California ID. § 2196 lets anyone with a California driver's license or state identification card register on the Secretary of State's site at registertovote.ca.gov. Without one, the paper affidavit goes to the county elections official — who must keep cards at the office and at enough places across the county to make registering easy (§ 2158(a)), in every language the federal Voting Rights Act requires. You can pre-register at 16 and your registration becomes active when you turn 18 (§ 2000(c)).
Registration is free and goes to the county elections official — which Elec. Code § 320 leaves each county to designate: a county clerk, a registrar of voters or an elections supervisor. Online registration (§ 2196) needs a California driver's license or state ID card. An affidavit received on or before the 15th day before an election counts for it (§ 2102); inside the last 14 days and on election day, conditional voter registration at the county elections office or a vote center still lets you register and vote (§ 2170). You may pre-register at 16 (§ 2000(c)).
Call or check the county website for the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections's office address and hours.
This page shows the best information we have for San Mateo County. Fees and hours may vary — call ahead to confirm before visiting.