Vote by mail ballots stolen from Bay Area post office

Jason Green, The Mercury News on Oct 17, 2026

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DALY CITY, Calif. – An investigation is underway into the theft of mail, including San Mateo County vote-by-mail ballots from a post office in Daly City, according to officials.

The theft was reported Wednesday to the Registration & Elections Division of the San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder’s Office.

“The number of ballots potentially affected has not yet been determined,” the office said in a statement.

The United States Postal Inspection Service is investigating the theft, according to officials.

Officials are encouraging voters to monitor the status of their vote by mail ballot through the California Secretary of State’s free ballot tracking service, “Where’s My Ballot,” at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov. The service provides notifications to voters when their ballot is mailed, received and processed by the Elections Division.

Voters concerned their ballot may have been affected by the theft may request a replacement ballot online at smcacre.gov/elections/request-replacement-ballot or in person at any county vote center. Online requests for a replacement ballot must be submitted by Oct. 27.

Vote centers are located at the Registration & Elections Division at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo, the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder at 555 County Center in Redwood City and the South San Francisco Library at 901 Civic Campus Way in South San Francisco.

Seven additional centers will open on Oct. 24, followed by another 36 on Oct. 31 and four on Nov. 2. A full list of locations and hours of operation is available at smcvote.gov.

Voters with questions about their ballot status can contact the Elections Division at registrar@smcacre.gov or 650-312-5222.