Election Information

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Overview

The Municipal Elections are held in November of even numbered years. The elective officers of the City consist of a City Council made up of six Councilmembers and a directly elected Mayor, the Chief of Police and the City Clerk, who are elected in a non-partisan election.

City Council Districts

Santa Clara City Councilmembers are elected by District, pursuant to the court order issued in July 2018. There are six districts (see City Council District map) in Santa Clara.

Only registered voters who reside within the Council district open for an elected Council seat may run for office.
Only those registered voters that reside in the Council district up for election may vote for their respective candidates.
The Mayor, Chief of Police and City Clerk serve at-large.
The Mayor and the City Council are elected to four-year overlapping terms. Each may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.
The City Clerk and the Chief of Police are also elected to four-year terms with no term limits.

For More Information

Hosam Haggag, Elected City Clerk Nora Pimentel, MMC, Assistant City Clerk

City Clerk's Office
408-615-2220
email clerk@santaclaraca.gov

Frequently Asked Questions on City Campaigns

Expand/Contract Questions and Answers

What is changing about Council member elections in the City of Santa Clara?
How is the new Council election system different?
When do the Council Districts go into effect?
How were the District boundaries determined?
Will all Council member votes have equal weight?
Will District Council members vote on issues that are outside of their district boundaries?
How do I know which Council District I live in?
Who is eligible to run for a District Council member position?
How do I find out who is running for each Council District?
Who is eligible to vote for a District Council member position?
How do I know if I’m registered to vote?
Do I have to change my voter registration to be eligible to vote for my District Council member?
Is it too late for me to become a candidate for my District Council seat on the November ballot?
Is the election system for electing Mayor changing?
Is the election system for electing Chief of Police changing?
Is the election system for electing City Clerk changing?

What is changing about Council member elections in the City of Santa Clara?
A court order has mandated that the City of Santa Clara be divided into six City Council Districts and that only residents of each district vote for one Council member to represent them. The court decision was in response to a lawsuit that claimed the City’s previous election system violated the CA Voting Rights Act. Detailed information about the lawsuit and the court decisions are available on this page or www.santaclaraca.gov/districts
How is the new Council election system different?
Previously, candidates for City Council ran for a specific Council seat, but all voters in the City of Santa Clara voted for all Council seats. In the new system, voters only vote for the Council member representing their district. The previously numbered City Council seats do not represent a district within the City; there is no relationship between the previous Council seat numbers and the new Council District numbers.
When do the Council Districts go into effect?
The new Council District election system goes into effect with the Nov. 6, 2018 election. Residents of two Council Districts – District 2 and District 3 – will vote for a Council member to represent them for the next four years. Current Council members who reside in the other four districts – Districts 1, 4, 5 and 6 – will remain in their positions until their current terms of office conclude in 2020 and then voters in these Council Districts will vote for their Council representatives in the November, 2020 election.
How were the District boundaries determined?
Through an expedited process from the Court order, several options for dividing Santa Clara into Council Districts were developed by demographic consultants to the City in conjunction with multiple community outreach meetings and public hearings. It was important that each district contain approximately the same number of residents (about 20,000) and that each district take into account other demographic factors such as the ethnicity of residents. The court decided which of the Council District maps would be used for the November 2018 election.
Will all Council member votes have equal weight?
Yes. All six Council members have one vote each and all count the same. The Mayor also has one vote and it also has the same weight as a Council member vote.
Will District Council members vote on issues that are outside of their district boundaries?
Yes. Council members will vote on all City issues and policies brought before the City Council, no matter what district they represent.
How do I know which Council District I live in?
Look at the Council District map above. You can also go to the website of the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, SCCvote.org, and click on the box “Look Up Your Districts.” It will ask you to enter your residential address and then provide district information for all jurisdictions (county, state, Congress, etc.), including the City of Santa Clara. If you still have questions, contact the Santa Clara City Clerk’s office at 408-615-2220 or Clerk@SantaClaraCA.gov.
Who is eligible to run for a District Council member position?
Only registered voters who reside in the district can run for the Council member representing that district.
How do I find out who is running for each Council District?
Election information is posted on the City Clerk’s webpages and on the website of the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, SCCvote.org. Registered voters will receive a sample ballot in the mail that lists only the candidates and measures each voter is eligible to vote for.
Who is eligible to vote for a District Council member position?
Only registered voters who reside in the district can vote for a candidate running for Council member to represent that district.
How do I know if I’m registered to vote?
Go to the County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters website, SCCvote.org, and click on the box “Voter Registration Lookup.” It will ask you to enter your home address and birthday and will inform you of your voter registration status.
Do I have to change my voter registration to be eligible to vote for my District Council member?
No. If you are a registered voter in Santa Clara County, your ballot will automatically include the candidates for Council member if your Council District is up for election this year.
Is it too late for me to become a candidate for my District Council seat on the November ballot?
Yes, if your District Council seat is one of the two that will be on the Nov. 6 ballot – District 2 or District 3. Candidates for these Council Districts were required to file candidacy papers by Aug. 10. Candidates for District Council member seats that will be on the ballot in November 2020 – Districts 1, 4, 5 and 6 – will file their paperwork in the summer of 2020.
Is the election system for electing Mayor changing?
No. The Mayor will continue to be elected by all voters in the City of Santa Clara for a four year term. The current Mayor’s term of office ends this year, so the Mayor position is on the Nov. 6, 2018 ballot.
Is the election system for electing Chief of Police changing?
No. The Chief of Police will continue to be elected by all voters in the City of Santa Clara for a four-year term. The Chief of Police position will not be on the ballot until November, 2020, and the current Chief of Police stays in office until that time.
Is the election system for electing City Clerk changing?
No. The City Clerk will continue to be elected at large by all voters in the City of Santa Clara. Since the position is currently vacant, it is on the November, 2018 ballot for a two-year partial term. The City Clerk position will also be on the November 2020 ballot for a full four-year term.