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As Election Day approaches, community members might be wanting to learn more about what they’re voting for on the Nov. 5 ballot. The San Mateo County Libraries has a resource for voters with staff curated content that offers nonpartisan and accurate information.
“There’s a lot of misinformation and disinformation out there and it’s going to be hard to navigate,” said Carine Risley, deputy director of San Mateo County Libraries. “Our librarians are trained to carefully assess and curate that information so that people have the opportunity to reflect on different points of view and select the way they want to vote in a way that reflects their values.”
The county library is also partnering with CalMatters in a voter guide presentation hosted across different library locations. The program focuses on voter education for older adults and on California propositions, according to Risley.
For children, the libraries are hosting “Vote for Storytime” where preschoolers and elementary school students cast their ballots on what books, props and activities they want to see during storytime.
Riskley said this exposes children to the democratic experience of how decisions are made and how a simple majority works.
Each of the San Mateo County Libraries locations offer pamphlets from nonpartisan resources, books related to the election and other resources for people to learn more about what’s happening locally and statewide.
In the era of artificial intelligence and misinformation on social media, county libraries staff are aware that there is “a lot of extra sifting and verification” that needs to happen. The staff are available to guide voters through information online and help them determine whether it’s a reliable source.
The San Mateo County Libraries has also created a “Voter Resources Page” on their website with a list of online resources community members can visit for information on voting in San Mateo County, voter guides, fact checking information and more.
Visit smcl.org/vote for more information.
How to cast your vote
Vote-by-mail ballots can be mailed in or dropped off at one of many drop boxes around the county. Some local drop boxes can be found at library locations in Woodside, East Palo Alto and North Fair Oaks.
To vote in person, the voting center at the San Carlos Library is currently open and starting Saturday, Nov. 2 libraries in Belmont and Half Moon Bay will be open for voting.
San Mateo County Vote Centers are also currently open for in-person voting at the San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, 555 County Center, 1st Floor in Redwood City; Lewis & Joan Platt East Palo Alto Family YMCA gymnasium, 550 Bell Street in East Palo Alto; Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Road in Redwood City are are currently open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m from Oct. 7 to Nov. 4.
On Nov. 5, all vote centers around the county will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Additional vote centers will open from Nov. 2-5 at Menlo College, Russell Center at 1000 El Camino Real in Atherton; Arrillaga Family Recreation Center in the Sequoia Room at 700 Alma Street in Menlo Park; Belle Haven Community Campus at 100 Terminal Avenue in Menlo Park; Community Hall at 765 Portola Road in Portola Valley; and Woodside Village Church at 3154 Woodside Road in Woodside.
From Nov. 4-5, pop-up vote centers will be open at University Circle at 1950 University Avenue in East Palo Alto and the Fire Brigade at 8945 La Honda Road in La Honda.
For the full list of vote centers and ballot drop off locations visit smcvote.gov.
