San Mateo County military and overseas voters can access their Nov. 3 election ballot online starting Oct. 5. A county system will let them mark selections on screen, print the ballot and a required Oath of Voter form, then return both by fax or mail.

The Remote Accessible Vote by Mail system is one of several options the county's Registration & Elections Division outlined in a Sept. 21 announcement for voters who won't be stateside on Election Day. Starting Oct. 5, eligible voters can visit smcacre.gov/myelectioninfo to reach a secure link to their ballot. They can also receive a blank ballot by email, mail or fax.

"Our goal in every election is to ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot, no matter where they are," Mark Church, San Mateo County's chief elections officer and assessor-county clerk-recorder, said in the announcement.

The county will send military and overseas ballots 45 days before the election, as required by the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). But the elections office is urging overseas voters to request a mailed ballot no later than Oct. 20 to allow time for international delivery.

The formal deadline to request a mailed ballot is Oct. 27. Requests for a ballot by fax or email can be submitted through Election Day, Nov. 3.

Who qualifies

The options apply to U.S. citizens who are at least 18 and absent from their voting residence. Eligible categories include active-duty members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine, their spouses or dependents, and U.S. citizens living abroad.

Voters not already registered as military or overseas voters should submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), available at fvap.gov or any U.S. Embassy. They can also register at the California Secretary of State's website, registertovote.ca.gov. Election materials are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Filipino.

How to return a ballot

Completed ballots can come back by fax at (650) 312-5348, by mail or in person. All must arrive at the county elections office by 8 p.m. Pacific Time on Nov. 3. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 10.

Ballots cannot be returned by email.

One change from past elections: the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) has shut down its digital fax service, the California Secretary of State's office confirms. Voters can no longer send ballots to [email protected] and must use another fax provider.

The elections division noted that some countries have suspended or reduced mail service to the United States. Voters should check with their local post office before relying on mail delivery.

Backup option

Military and overseas voters who don't expect their regular ballot to arrive in time can use a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, available at fvap.gov or any U.S. Embassy.

Three Vote Centers open countywide on Oct. 5 for early in-person voting, with more locations added through Election Day. Voters can reach the elections office by calling or texting (650) 312-5222 or visiting smcacre.gov.