Frequently Asked Questions

Any member of the public who meets the requirement below may run for public office:

1. A Citizen of the United States
2. Be at least eighteen (18) years of age
3. Resident and registered voter of the district where office is sought at least 30 days before filing nomination papers with the City Clerk/Elections Official.

If you are interested in running for office, please email City Clerk Elaine Tran with questions or schedule an appointment by calling 650-259-2414.

View the adopted District map or look up your district by address.  

The California Voter Participation Rights Act (SB 415 ) is a State law that aims to improve voter turnout by combining local odd-year elections with even-year statewide elections. To comply with SB 415, the City Council voted on September 13, 2016 to move the City's general municipal election from an odd-year (November 2017) to an even-year General Election taking place November 2018. This change required extending the Councilmembers' terms by 12 months. This decision will allow the City to comply with the state law, potentially increase voter turnout, and share election costs with overlapping jurisdictions.

"Electioneering" is defined in California Elections Code section 319.5 as "the visible display or audible dissemination of information that advocates for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot within 100 feet of a polling place, a vote center, an elections official's office, or a satellite location under Section 3018." This effectively means electioneering cannot be conducted within 100 feet of the entrance to the polling place. Prohibited materials and information include, but are not limited to:

• A display of a candidate's name, likeness, or logo
• A display of a ballot measure's number, title, subject, or logo
• Buttons, hats, pencils, pens, shirts, signs, or stickers containing information about candidates or issues on the ballot
• Any audible broadcasting of information about candidates or measures on the ballot
• Loitering near or disseminating visible or audible electioneering information near a vote-by-mail drop-box

It should be noted that a campaign slogan or a political movement slogan (or the initials representing the campaign or political movement - i.e. BLM, MAGA, etc.) does not constitute electioneering under the legal definition of electioneering as stated above. Accordingly, the display of slogans on clothing, face coverings, and/or buttons is not prohibited.

Any person who violates any of the provisions of Election Code 18370 Electioneering is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Any person who conspires to violate Election Code 18541 Corruption of the Voting Process/Intimidation of Voters is guilty of a felony. Punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 12 months, or in the state prison. A person shall not, with the intent of dissuading another person from voting, within the 100-foot limit specified in subdivision (b), do any of the following:

• Solicit a vote or speak to a voter on the subject of marking the voter's ballot.
• Place a sign relating to voters' qualifications or speak to a voter on the subject of the voter's qualifications except as provided in Section 14240.
• Photograph, video record, or otherwise record a voter entering or exiting a polling place.
• Obstruct ingress, egress, or parking.

The activities described in subdivision (a) are prohibited within 100 feet of either of the following:

• The entrance to a building that contains a polling place as defined by Section 338.5, an elections official's office, or a satellite location specified in Section 3018.
• An outdoor site, including a curbside voting area, at which a voter may cast or drop off a ballot.

A person shall not, with the intent of dissuading another person from voting, do any of the following within the immediate vicinity of a voter in line to cast a ballot or drop off a ballot:

• Solicit a vote.
• Speak to a voter about marking the voter's ballot.
• Disseminate visible or audible electioneering information.