Election and Voter Information
Register to Vote
Voter registration information is available through the San Mateo County Election website
- California Voter Registration
- The City Clerk’s Office provides voter registration forms during office hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM @ 330 W. 20th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403.
- We can assist you in locating the 28 day vote centers and 4 day vote centers. You are able to cast your Vote not just on election day.
Qualifications for Office
A person must be a registered voter of the City of San Mateo and have resided continuously in San Mateo for at least thirty days immediately preceding the appointment or final filing date for nomination papers.Initiatives, Referendums and Recalls
The City Clerk's Office cannot interpret laws or offer legal advice, and, if applicable, we strongly suggest seeking legal counsel to ensure that your actions are in full compliance with California Elections Code.
Ballot Initiatives and Referendums
California Elections Code outlines the process for circulating petitions for ballot initiatives and referendums. The requirements may differ based upon the type of legislation to determine what applies to the situation, for more information, please consult California Elections Code Sections 9200-9226 and California Elections Code Sections 9235-9247.
Recall Initiatives
The California Secretary of State offers a detailed description of the process for initiating a recall for local officials.
On Jan. 30, 2023, the City Clerk confirmed a proposed citizen-led recall initiative met the requirements of the Elections Code as to form and wording. Pursuant to elections Code Section 11220, the petition must be filed with the City Clerk’s office not later than 160 days from Jan. 30, 2023.
Therefore, the petition must be filed no later than the close of normal office hours on July 9, 2023. The County Elections Office then has 30 working days to verify the signatures. Pursuant to Elections Code Section 11221, the petition shall be signed by not less than 15% of the registered voters in the city. As of the last report to the California Secretary of State, the City of San Mateo’s registered voters is 57,664. Therefore, the number of required signatures needed is 8,650.
Campaign Contributions
Individual contributions cannot exceed $500 and organization contributions cannot exceed $1,000. Additionally, a candidate cannot personally make a loan to their campaign in an amount which exceeds $15,000. Municipal Code 2.80.030 LIMITATIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS
Elections - Role of the City Clerk
The City Clerk is responsible for the administration of all municipal elections by:
- Serving as Elections Official and issuing nomination papers to potential candidates;
- Serving as Elections Official for the initiative and referendum process;
- Serving as Filing Officer for Campaign Statements and Statements of Economic Interests as required by the Political Reform Act and administered by the Fair Political Practices Commission.
- Maintaining the City’s election history.