Elections

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Local Elections Official

The City Clerk serves as the local elections official and coordinates with the County of Orange in conducting municipal elections. The City of Orange consolidates its regular general municipal elections with statewide elections held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year to fill expired City Council terms and conducts elections in accordance with the California Elections Code and local regulations.

Upcoming Elections

General Municipal Election
The next General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The election will be for:

Mayor
Three (3) Councilmember District seats (Districts 1, 4, and 6)

Information on this site will be updated periodically. Should you have any specific questions, please contact the City Clerk's Office at (714) 744-5500.

City Measures

Contact

Pamela Coleman, CMC
City Clerk / City Clerk Services Director

300 E. Chapman Ave.
Orange, CA 92866

(714) 744-5500 / (714) 744-5515 Fax
For general inquiries email us.

Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

See City Calendar

For information pertaining to any County or Statewide election, please visit the Orange County Registrar of Voters or California Secretary of State.

2026 Qualified Candidates

Notice of Public Examination Period for Candidate Statements and Ballot Designations

August 8-17, 2026

Pursuant to the California Elections Code, the public may examine all* candidate statements of qualifications and ballot designations submitted for inclusion in the official Voter Information Guide.

Documents are available for public review during regular business hours at the Office of the City Clerk, 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, California. Copies are available upon request and may be subject to a copying fee.

*The candidate filing period for City Councilmember District 6 has been extended pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10225. The public examination period for that office will be August 13–24, 2026.

Notice of Extension of Candidate Nomination Period

The candidate filing period for the office of City Councilmember, District 6 has closed.

Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10225, the nomination period for the office of City Councilmember, District 6 has been extended until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

The incumbent eligible for re-election in District 6 did not file, which extends the filing period. Eligible individuals interested in becoming a candidate for City Councilmember, District 6, must obtain and file nomination papers by meeting with the City Clerk. Appointments can be scheduled by registering through the City's online election portal.

Notice of Extension

Candidate Filing Period

July 13 - August 7*, 2026

The nomination period for candidates for the offices of Mayor and City Council Districts 1 and 4 has closed. The filing period for write-in candidates is September 7-October 20, 2026.

The nomination period begins on Monday, July 13, 2026, and closes on August 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Candidates for Districts 1, 4, and 6 must be registered to vote in their District at the time nomination papers are issued. Candidates for Mayor must be registered voters in the City of Orange. Candidates must make appointments to meet with the City Clerk to pull and file nomination papers by registering through the online election portal (available at 8:00 a.m. on July 13 on the City’s website).

Candidates must file all nomination paperwork and fees with the City Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 7, 2026.

*If an eligible incumbent for any seat does not file nomination papers by the deadline, the nomination period for that seat will be extended to August 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Notice of Offices and Nominations

2026 Unofficial Candidate List

The Prospective Candidate List includes individuals who have pulled nomination papers for the upcoming November 3 election. This unofficial list is updated daily, or as needed, to reflect the current status of each prospective candidate.

Following the randomized drawing conducted by the Secretary of State on August 13, 2026, the "Official List" of qualified candidates will be posted in the order they shall appear on the ballot.

The list will be updated daily after 5:00 p.m.

November 2026 Election Notices and Resolutions

Notice of Offices and Nominations

Notice of Measure to be Voted on:

Notice of City Charter Measure - English
Notice of City Charter Measure - Spanish
Notice of City Charter Measure - Chinese
Notice of City Charter Measure - Korean
Notice of City Charter Measure - Vietnamese

Notice of Election and Measures to be Voted on:

Resolutions:

Resolution No. 11669 - Calling and Giving Notice of Election
Resolution No. 11671 - Candidate Statements
Resolution No. 11673 - Consolidating Election with the County of Orange
Resolution No. 11674 - Providing for filing of Rebuttal Arguments for City Measures
Resolutions pertaining to the Sales Tax Measure
Resolutions pertaining to TOT (Hotel Tax) Measure
Resolutions pertaining to proposed City Charter Measure

Eligibility to Run for Office

Qualifications

A citizen of the United States
At least 18 years of age
Council Member candidates must be residents and registered voters of the respective district at the time nomination papers are issued (OMC 2.02.020)
Mayor, City Clerk, and City Treasurer candidates must be residents and registered voters of the City of Orange

Signatures on candidate nomination forms must be from registered voters in the Council Candidate’s District or registered voters in the entire City for Mayor, City Clerk, and Treasurer.

Voter Information: Register to Vote

The Constitution of the United States has been amended several times to ensure all citizens are provided an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process. Take advantage of your right to vote. In California, the deadline to register to vote for an election is 15 days before each local and statewide election day.

Voter Registration

To be eligible to register to vote in California you must be:

A citizen of the United States
A resident of California
At least 18 years of age
Not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony

How to Register to Vote and Check Status

Online: Register to vote at ocvote.gov/registration
Mail: Send a registration form which is available at the post office, DMV, Orange County Registrar of Voters
In-Person: Drop off a registration form at the Orange County Registrar of Voters Office, 1300 South Grand Avenue, Building C, Santa Ana 92705
Check Status: View your registration status, check your ballot status, aand review your voter history with the Voter Lookup Tool

Vote Centers

View voting and ballot drop-off locations for upcoming elections on the OC Registrar of Voters website.

Vote Centers mean more options for voters. Elections are no longer a one-day event. Voting begins the month before any election day when every voter will receive a vote-by-mail ballot. Take advantage of the alternatives available to you - from drive-thru ballot drop-off, in-person options, returning your ballot via the United States Postal Service (no stamp required), or personally deliver your ballot to the Registrar of Voters. Visit the Orange County Registrar of Voters website for more information.

Where to Vote in Orange

June 2, 2026 – Statewide Direct Primary Election

Ballot Drop Boxes will be open 24/7 starting Monday, May 4 until 8 p.m. on Election Day, June 2, 2026.

El Modena Branch Library, 380 S. Hewes St.
Orange Public Library, 407 E. Chapman Ave.
Taft Branch Library, 740 E. Taft Ave.

To view a full list of Vote Centers and Ballot Drop Box locations in Orange County, visit the Registrar of Voters website.

Vote Center Dates and Hours of Operation:

May 23 – May 29, 2026 (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) Select Vote Centers open
May 30 – June 1, 2026 (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) all Vote Centers open
June 2, 2026 (7 a.m. – 8 p.m.) all Vote Centers open

The following Vote Centers open on May 23, 2026 (hours listed above):

El Modena Branch Library, 380 S. Hewes St.
Orange Public Library, 407 E. Chapman Ave.

The following Vote Centers open on May 30, 2026 (hours listed above):

El Camino Real Park Community Room, 400 N. Main St.
Killefer Park Community Room, 615 A N. Lemon St.
Sports Center at Grijalva Park (Building B) Classroom, 368 N. Prospect St.

Sign Regulations

Campaign signs are not permitted in the public right of way and must be removed within 10 days of the applicable election. (OMC 17.36.170)

There are state and local laws surrounding the topic of political campaign signs. Please see below for a list of frequently asked questions.

How early can temporary political campaign signs (“signs”) be posted?
- Campaign signs must only be placed during active election season and no sooner than 90 days prior to the scheduled election. For the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election, signs may be posted beginning August 5, 2026. (OMC 17.36.170.C)
How long after the election can campaign signs be posted?
- Signs must be removed within 10 days after the election (November 13, 2026, for upcoming election). (OMC 17.36.170.H)
Where can campaign signs be posted?
- Signs shall not be placed within the public right-of-way and are prohibited on City property or streets including but not limited to signal posts, light posts, walls, trees, bridges, sidewalks, and parking lots. (OMC 17.36.050 & 17.36.170.D)
- Placement of signs on private property must receive consent from the property owner prior to placement of signs. (OMC 17.36.040.A)
- Signs shall not be placed within the right-of-way of any highway, or within 660 feet of the edge of, and visible from the right-of-way of a classified landscaped freeway. State law directs the Department of Transportation to remove unauthorized temporary political signs and bill the responsible party for their removal. Visit CalTrans website for more information.
Who is authorized to install or remove campaign signs?
- No person is allowed to install signs on City property or streets, except an authorized public officer or City employee performing their duties. (OMC 17.36.050.A)
- Only City employees are authorized to remove signs from City property or streets. (OMC 17.36.160.G1)
- Only private property owners or designated campaign staff can install or remove signs on private property with prior consent of the private property owner. (OMC 17.36.160.G1)
- Removal of signs without consent is against the law and is a misdemeanor per California Penal Code § 488.

Campaign Contribution Limits

Candidate Resources

Campaign Filings

Statement of Economic Interests - Form 700

Council Districts

On November 12, 2019, the Orange City Council adopted Ordinance No. 06-19 moving the City from at-large to district-based elections. The November 3, 2020, election was the first conducted in the by-district system. In by-district elections, the City is divided into Council districts. Each voter resides within one of those districts, and participates in the election of one City Council member who must also reside in and be a registered voter of that district. The Mayor, City Clerk, and City Treasurer are elected at large. With the adoption of City Council Resolution No. 11381, the new 2022 City Council district map was approved. View the 2022 District Map (PDF). To verify your Council District, view the Interactive Map.

In compliance with federal and state law, every 10 years, local governments use new data from the Census to redraw their district lines to reflect how local populations have changed. On March 22, 2022, the City of Orange City Council adopted Resolution No. 11381 approving NDC Map 128 thereby implementing a new City Council district map. Please visit the City's Redistricting page for more information.

Past Election Results

November 5, 2024, General Municipal Election

Mayor, Councilmember (Districts 2, 3, and 5), Two Measures