TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: SHELLEY DESAUTELS, CITY CLERK
DATE: JUNE 9, 2026
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS INITIATING THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING THREE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL - ONE EACH IN DISTRICTS 2, 3 AND 4; ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES; AND REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION WITH THE STATEWIDE ELECTION (FUNDING SOURCE: GENERAL FUND)
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SUMMARY
Claremont is a general law city governed by a five-member City Council. The City’s general municipal elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years and are consolidated with the statewide general election conducted by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. City Councilmembers are elected to serve in non-partisan positions for a four-year term and terms are staggered. Two seats are voted on during one election cycle and three seats during the next cycle. At the upcoming November 3, 2026 Claremont General Municipal Election, a Council representative will be elected in Districts 2, District 3 and District 4.
Pursuant to the requirements of law for general law cities, the City Council must adopt certain resolutions to call the November 3rd General Municipal Election.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council:
A. Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES;
B. Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026; and
C. Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO ORDER THE CONSOLIDATION OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026 WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ON THE SAME DAY; AUTHORIZE THE REGISTRAR-RECORDER COUNTY CLERK OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CANVASS THE RETURNS OF SAID GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION; AND PERMIT THE REGISTRAR-RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK OF SAID COUNTY TO RENDER FULL SERVICES TO THE CITY OF CLAREMONT RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF SAID GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 10403.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Administrative Services Department has budgeted $100,000 to conduct a consolidated November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election for three City Council district seats. The budget includes the cost for the City Clerk’s office to prepare candidate nomination supplies, serve as the filing office for nomination documents and campaign statements, publish legal notices, provide voter and candidate assistance, and obtain County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk services to facilitate the election, which includes mailing and collection of vote by mail ballots (including retrieval of ballots from drop box locations in the City), vote center selection and staffing, and tabulation of election results.
All eligible registered voters in the City of Claremont will receive vote-by-mail ballots for the November 3 election, return postage prepaid, but voters’ ballots in District 2 (approximately 4,481), District 3 (approximately 3,885) and District 4 (approximately 5,3454) will also have a City Council contest on their ballot. Vote Centers for Citywide in-person voting and drop-off boxes will also be available once the voting period begins (beginning in early October). Costs for these services are included in the amount budgeted for the election and will be passed through from the County to the City.
ANALYSIS
City Council Electoral Districts and Current District Map
The current City Council Electoral Districts are depicted on the map below. These boundaries shall continue in effect until they are amended or repealed in accordance with law:
The City website contains a link to the interactive district map where a voter may look up their City Council District: www.claremontca.gov/Government/Elections.
Also, a resident may check their voter registration status on the County Registrar website: <https://www.lavote.gov/vrstatus/>.
Calling the November 3, 2026 Election, Adopting Regulations for Candidates and Requesting County Election Services
Certain actions must be taken by the City Council to call the election. This needs to occur so the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors can provide their approval prior to the nomination period for candidacy opening on July 13, 2026.
The resolutions presented to the City Council for consideration are as follows:
• Resolution calling for the holding of the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election for Districts 2, 3 and 4 (Attachment A);
• Resolution adopting regulations for candidates (Attachment B); and
• Resolution requesting the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors order consolidation of the General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election and have the Registrar Recorder County Clerk render full election services (Attachment C).
Candidate Eligibility and Nomination Period
Eligibility to run for office within the City of Claremont requires you to be a United States citizen, 18 years or older, and a registered voter of the City residing within the candidate specific City Council electoral district at the time the nomination paper is issued and for the duration of their term if elected and otherwise entitled to vote.
The nomination period for candidates will begin Monday, July 13, 2026, and run through Monday, August 10, 2026. The nomination process will be handled by the City Clerk’s office during regular business hours. An appointment is recommended as the process involved in issuing nomination papers and providing materials and information to a prospective candidate can take 30 minutes to an hour.
The City Clerk’s office will serve as filing officer for candidates and will also work with the County of Los Angeles to coordinate and consolidate the City election with the Statewide General Election conducted by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
If an incumbent does not file nomination papers declaring candidacy by the closing date for nominations (for this election - August 10, 2026), the nomination period is extended (pursuant to Section 10225 of the Elections Code).
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July 13, 2026 - August 10, 2026 |
Nomination Period Between these dates, candidates may obtain nomination materials and file to declare candidacy. |
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August 11, 2026 - August 12, 2026 Only applies if an incumbent does not file for office in his or her district. |
Extended Nomination Period (Only applies if an incumbent does not file for office in his or her district during the initial nomination period.) Between these dates, a candidate may obtain nomination materials and file to declare candidacy. Incumbent is not eligible to file during this period. |
Once the nomination period has closed, City management will hold a candidate orientation to provide information related to organizational structure, an overview of City work plan items, and introduce City Department Heads and management staff who will be a point of contact for their areas of expertise during the election period.
Candidate Statements
A commonly accepted practice is to pass through the actual cost of printing, translating and mailing candidate statements, which are optional, and require each candidate filing a candidate statement to pay his or her estimated pro rata share to have a statement included in the voter pamphlet. The estimate is an approximation of the actual cost, which varies from one election to another depending on the number of candidates filing statements.
Additionally, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk has created an alternative program which provides for the electronic placement of a candidate statement on a dedicated County website page for a fixed fee as a cost-effective option to print the candidate statement. Choosing this alternative would mean the candidate WOULD NOT have his or her candidate statement printed in the voter guide.
It is proposed that the City of Claremont continue the practice of charging candidates the actual cost of preparing a candidate statement should the candidate elect to provide one. As of this writing the number of registered voters in each voting district for this election are as follows: District 2 - 4,481, District 3 - 3,885, and District 4 - 5,454.
The County estimates for these costs are not yet available and will be provided by the County Registrar Recorder prior to the opening of the nomination period and would be collected by the City at the time of filing as a deposit. Each candidate filing a statement will then receive a bill or a refund after the election once the City receives its invoice from the County. This action is included in the attached resolution adopting regulations for candidates (Attachment B).
Conducting the Election
City elections are consolidated onto the Los Angeles County ballot, and the election is conducted by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. The City Clerk continues to be the City’s Elections Official, which includes handling the nomination period for candidates, serving as the filing officer for campaign expenditure reports, and being a point of contact for candidates and voters.
The County will handle translation of materials, the review of candidate statements, preparation of the voter information guide and official ballots, providing voter information to candidates and their committees, establishing vote center (polling) locations, staffing and managing the vote centers Countywide, and tabulation of ballots at their Norwalk office.
As in recent elections, the County will continue to provide the technology to allow voters the freedom to vote at any vote center in Los Angeles County during the ten days leading up to the Election as well as on Election Day, as well as making drop boxes available Countywide for the deposit of a voted vote-by-mail ballot. This technology also provides for same day voter registration, if needed.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated this agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds it relates to the General Plan and the 2024-26 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by:
Shelley Desautels
City Clerk
Attachments:
A - Resolution Calling the November 3, 2026 Election
B - Resolution Adopting Candidate Regulations
C - Resolution Requesting Consolidation