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Elections

General Municipal Election - November 5, 2024

The next General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The election will be for the Mayor, for a term of two (2) years; and three (3) Councilmember Ward Seats (Ward Nos. 1, 3, and 5), each for a term of four (4) years.  The election will also be for four (4) Measures placed on the ballot by the Santa Ana City Council.

The City Clerk serves at the Elections Official and is responsible for all candidate filings, the issuance and acceptance of nomination papers, City measures including arguments and rebuttals, and publication of all legal notices as well as campaign and conflict of interest filings required by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).

Information on this site will be updated periodically.  Should you have any specific election questions, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 714-647-6520 or via email to the City Clerk at jhall@santa-ana.org.

For information pertaining to any County, School Board, or Special District election, please visit the Orange County Registrar of Voters.  Statewide election information can be found through the California Secretary of State.

What's on the ballot for 2024 for Santa Ana?

At the municipal level, there are several items on the ballot for 2024:

 

About the elections process

The City Council is made up of a Mayor and six Councilmembers, for a total of seven members. City Councilmembers are nominated by their respective wards and the Mayor seat is nominated at-large. The offices of Mayor and City Council are non-partisan. The Mayor serves a term of two years, with a maximum of four terms. Councilmembers each serve a four-year term, with a maximum of three  four-year terms.

Elections are held every two-years in the even-numbered years. The Mayoral Seat is on the ballot at each election. Councilmember Ward Seats alternate three seats per election (ex. 2024 - Ward Nos. 1, 3, 5; 2026 - Ward Nos. 2, 4, 6; and so forth).

Pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-041, to be eligible to be elected to the office of Councilmember, a person must be a registered voter and provide proof of residency no less than 30 days in the ward from which the candidate is nominated prior to issuing the nomination papers. To be eligible to be elected to the office of Mayor, a person must be a registered voter and provide proof of residency no less than 30 days in Santa Ana.

How to run for office

Candidates may be nominated for the elective office of the respective ward they reside in, or the City overall, only during the Nomination Period between the 113th day and the 88th day before a municipal election. In 2024, the nomination period is Monday, July 15 through Friday, August 9. Regular business hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Thursday, and alternating Fridays (see calendar).

Eligible candidates must be:

  • a United States citizen;
  • 18 years old on or before Election Day;
  • a registered voter;
  • a current Santa Ana resident
    • proof verifying thirty (30) days of residency for that office is required by the time Nomination Papers are issued by the elections official.

1.   Before nomination period

There are certain things that potential candidates can do to prepare for election before candidate filing commences. You can file a Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) with the City Clerk’s office. You may establish a Campaign Committee if you plan to raise $2,000+ or spend $1,000+ during your campaign. To establish a Committee, you will need to: 1) file a Statement of Organization (Form 410) with the Secretary of State and provide a copy to the City Clerk's Office, and 2) set up an electronic filing account by contacting the City Clerk's Office by email at cityclerk@santa-ana.org. Please read the limitations on contributions from Santa Ana City Charter Section 1206.

2.   During nomination period

Interested candidates must pick up one Nomination Packet from the City Clerk's Office by making an appointment within the Nomination Period. The packet consists of one Nomination Petition to circulate and forms to complete and file before the end of the nomination period. The nomination of candidates requires no less than 20 valid signatures from registered voters in the jurisdiction of the office they are running for to qualify for the ballot.

3.   After nomination period

If you won the election and established a Campaign Committee, you must continue filing semi-annual statements until you terminate the Committee. All elected officials are also required to file annual Statements of Economic Interest or Conflict of Interest Statements (Form 700) and complete mandatory trainings such as Ethics AB1234 every two years.

If you were not successful in the election and established a Committee, pursuant to FPPC Manual 2 it is recommended that you terminate your Committee as soon as possible to avoid further annual filing fees to the Secretary of State. Please refer to the manual for additional information. The City also recommends participating in local government in other ways by serving on a board or commission or participating in public meetings.

Additional information

Election history

Campaign finance

Proof of residency for current councilmembers

Voter information

  • Visit the County of Orange Registrar of Voters website
    The Registrar of Voters (ROV) is the County Elections Official and the office conducts all Federal, State, County, Municipal, School District, and Special District scheduled and special elections. The ROV Office is also responsible for voter registration, education and outreach, maintenance of registration files, verification of initiatives, referenda, and recall petitions, and filing of campaign reports.
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