City Elections

The Clerk of the Council serves as the elections official and is responsible for all candidate filings, the issuance and acceptance of nomination papers, City measures and publication of all legal notices as well as campaign and conflict of interest filings required by the Fair Political Practices Commission.

The general municipal elections for the City are held on the first Tuesday in November of even-numbered years for the purpose of electing City Council members or placing special measures and/or bond issues before the voters.

The City Council is made up of a Mayor and six Councilmembers, for a total of seven members. City Council members are nominated by their respective ward and elected 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 consecutive terms. While, Councilmembers each serve a four-year term, with a maximum of three consecutive four-year terms.   At the next City election, to be held on November 3, 2020;  Wards 1, 3 and 5, and the Mayor's seat will be up for election.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN (SPANISH, VIETNAMESE, KOREAN, MANDARIN) that a Special Municipal Election will be held in the City of Santa Ana, on Tuesday, the 5th day of November 2019 to fill the Ward 4 Councilmember office for a partial 4-year term. The Nomination Period for the Ward 4 Office closes on Friday, August 9, 2019 at 5:00 P.m.  Nomination documents will be available on July 15, 2019 in the Clerk of the Council Office, 20 Civic Center Plaza, Room 809, Santa Ana, CA during regular business hours.  Appointments are strongly recommended by calling (714) 647-6520.

To be eligible to be elected to the office of councilmember, a person must be a qualified voter and a thirty (30) day resident of the ward from which the candidate is nominated at the time nomination papers are issued. 

For specific questions regarding the election process, please contact the Clerk of the Council at (714) 647-6520, during regular business hours.

Remember to vote on Election Day, November 5, 2019. Register or verify your voter registration at https://www.ocvote.com/registration/.

2018 Ballot Measures Approved

• MEASURE X: SANTA ANA NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY, HOMELESS PREVENTION AND ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES ENHANCEMENT MEASURE   “To maintain effective 9-1-1 response; retaining firefighters and police officers; addressing homelessness; fixing streets; maintaining parks, youth and senior services, and unrestricted general revenue purposes; shall the sales tax be increased one and one half (1.5) cents until 2029 providing approximately $60 million dollars annually, then reduced to one (1) cent providing approximately $40 million dollars annually, until 2039, requiring annual audits, citizens oversight and for Santa Ana use only?”
  • Impartial Analysis by City Attorney

• MEASURE AA: REQUIRE BY-WARD NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF COUNCILMEMBERS, AND REDRAWING OF WARD BOUNDARIES TO COMPLY WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW  “Shall City of Santa Ana Charter sections 101.2 and 400 be amended requiring City Councilmember election from his or her residency ward and only by registered voters of that ward, instead of City Councilmember elections by registered voters of the entire City, with ward boundaries to be drawn as required by law??”
  • Impartial Analysis by City Attorney
  • Please note that new boundaries and district elections effective commencing with the 2020 General Election.
     

• MEASURE Z: CITY CHARTER MODERNIZATION AND UPDATE OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS  “Shall the Charter be amended to: modernize and remove outdated language to reflect changes or conflicts in the City or State law concerning gifts and campaign contributions and designated City funds; create consistency in the Municipal Code regarding boards or commissions; and move the qualifications for the Finance Director to the Municipal Code?”
  • Impartial Analysis by City Attorney

• MEASURE Y: APPROVE ORDINANCE REGARDING A MARIJUANA/COMMERCIAL CANNABIS BUSINESS LICENSE TAX   “Shall Chapter 21 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code be amended to enact both a gross square footage tax of between 25 cents to $35.00 and a gross receipts tax rate up to 10% for cultivating, manufacturing, distributing, selling or testing cannabis and related products to raise between $8 to $12 million to fund public safety, parks, youth and senior services, among other general City services?”
  • Impartial Analysis by City Attorney

Election History

• Election Results – Mayor and City Council (1886-2018)
• Election Results – Measures and Charter Amendments (1886-2016)

Campaign Finance

• Search Campaign Contribution Filings (2012 to present)
• Fair Political Practices Commission Forms and Deadlines
• City of Santa Ana - Campaign Contribution Limits
• Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)
  The FPPC is the State agency that enforces State laws regarding, among other things, campaign financing and spending, financial conflicts of interest, and gifts and honoraria given to public officials and candidates under the Political Reform Act. The FPPC provides written and oral advice to public agencies, candidates and officials on the requirements of the Political Reform Act. The FPPC’s Advice Line can be reached at 1-866-ASK-FPPC (1-866-275-3772) or email advice@fppc.ca.gov

Voter Registration:

• Register to Vote (On-line form)
• Update my Voter Registration Information
• Check my Registration
• Vote By Mail (Request form)
• County of Orange Registrar of Voters
  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.

Other

• FAQ's
• Request to Withdraw Name from Petition