HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-09; City Council; 04; Calling the Nov. 3, 2026, General Municipal ElectionCA Review CKM
Meeting Date:
To:
From:
Staff Contact:
morgen.fry@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2808
Faviola Medina, Director of Constituent & Clerk Services
faviola.medina@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-5989
Subject:
Districts:
Recommended Action
1)Adopt a resolution calling for and giving notice of the general municipal election to be held
on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, for the purpose of electing a Mayor, City Council Member
District 1, City Council Member District 3, City Treasurer and City Clerk for four year terms
ending in 2030; and
2)Adopt a resolution requesting that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors consolidate
the city’s general municipal election with the statewide general election to be held on
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026; and
3)Adopt a resolution approving regulations for candidates for elective office pertaining to
candidates’ statements submitted to the voters at the general municipal election to be held
in the City of Carlsbad on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Executive Summary/Analysis
Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 1.12.020 requires the city’s general municipal election to be
held on the same date as the statewide general election. The next statewide general election
will be held on Nov. 3, 2026. The city will participate for the purpose of electing the following
officials:
•Mayor
•City Council Member District 1
•City Council Member District 3
•City Treasurer
•City Clerk
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To consolidate the city’s general municipal election with the statewide general election, the City
Council must adopt a resolution requesting consolidation and file it with the San Diego County
Board of Supervisors and Registrar of Voters by Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. The resolution requesting
consolidation must be adopted at the same time the City Council adopts the resolution calling
the city’s general municipal election (Cal. Elections Code, § 10403(b)).
•The candidate filing period for the city’s general municipal election is from Monday,
July 13, 2026, at 8 a.m. to Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, at 5 p.m. (Cal. Elections Code, §§ 10220,
10224).
•If nomination papers are not filed by the incumbent Mayor, incumbent City Council
Member District 1, incumbent City Council Member District 3, incumbent City Treasurer
or incumbent City Clerk by Friday Aug. 7, 2026, at 5 p.m., the candidate filing period for
those offices will be extended to Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, at 5 p.m. (Cal. Elections
Code, § 10225).
Anyone wishing to run for any of the open seats may obtain nomination papers by scheduling
an appointment with the Assistant City Clerk.
Fiscal Analysis
Although the actual costs of the election are likely to vary depending on how many jurisdictions
participate and other factors, the City Clerk’s Office budget for fiscal year 2026-27 includes
$265,000 to cover costs related to the election. This amount is based on an estimate provided
by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. In the event the city’s election costs exceed the
budgeted $265,000, staff will return to City Council for an additional appropriation once the
final invoice is received from the Registrar of Voters.
Next Steps
Staff will file the resolutions with the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and Registrar of
Voters requesting consolidation of the city’s general municipal election with the statewide
general election on Nov. 3, 2026. In addition, staff will publish the Notice of the Election on the
city’s website and in the following local newspapers of general circulation authorized to publish
legal notices:
•The Coast News
•The San Diego Union-Tribune
•El Latino
•Tieng Viet San Diego News
•The Filipino Press
•The Epoch Times
Environmental Evaluation
The proposed action is not a “project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act,
or CEQA, Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and does not require
environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) because the act of calling an
election, requesting consolidation services and approving regulations pertaining to candidates’
statements are organizational or administrative government activities that will not result in
direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
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Exhibits
1. City Council resolution calling the Nov. 3, 2026, General Municipal Election
2. City Council resolution requesting consolidation services from the San Diego County Board
of Supervisors and Registrar of Voters for the Nov. 3, 2026, General Municipal Election
3. City Council resolution adopting regulations for candidates’ statements of qualifications
4. Registrar of Voters cost estimate for election
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Exhibit 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-102
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE GENERAL
MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOV. 3, 2026, FOR THE
PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 1, CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 3, CITY TREASURER AND CITY CLERK FOR FOUR
YEAR TERMS ENDING IN 2030
WHEREAS, under Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 1.12.020, the city’s general municipal
election must be held on the same date as the statewide general election; and
WHEREAS, the next statewide general election will be held on Nov. 3, 2026; and
WHEREAS, under Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.04.080, the City’s transition to district
elections requires the selection of the City Council Member District 1 and City Council Member District
3 at the election on Nov. 3, 2026.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.That the above recitation is true and correct.
2. That the proposed action is not a “project” as defined by the California Environmental
Quality Act, or CEQA, Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and does
not require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) because
the act of calling an election is an organizational or administrative government activity
that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
3.That there is called and ordered to be held in the City of Carlsbad, California, on Tuesday,
Nov. 3, 2026, a general municipal election for the purpose of electing a Mayor, City
Council Member District 1, City Council Member District 3, City Treasurer and City Clerk
for four year terms ending in 2030.
4.That the ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and content as required by
law.
5.That the City Clerk’s Office is authorized, instructed and directed to coordinate with the
San Diego County Registrar of Voters to procure and furnish any and all official ballots,
notices, printed matter and all supplies, equipment and paraphernalia that may be
necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct the election.
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6.That in keeping with California Elections Code Section 10418, the hours for the opening
and closing of the polls for the general municipal election shall be the same as provided
for the statewide general election on Nov. 3, 2026.
7.That in all particulars not recited in this Resolution, the election shall be held and
conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections that are consolidated with
statewide elections.
8.That notice of the time and place of holding the election is given and the City Clerk’s
Office is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the
election, in the time, form and manner as required by law.
9.That in the event of a tie vote (if any two or more persons receive an equal and the
highest number of votes for an office) as certified by the San Diego County Registrar of
Voters, the City Council, in accordance with California Elections Code Section 15651 shall
conduct a Special Runoff Election to resolve the tie vote and such Special Runoff Election
is to be held on a Tuesday not less than 40 days nor more than 125 days after the
administrative or judicial certification of the election which resulted in a tie vote.
10.That the City Clerk or designee shall certify to the passage and adoption of this
Resolution.
11.That the City Council authorizes the City Clerk or designee to administer said election
and all reasonable and actual election expenses shall be paid by the city upon
presentation of a properly submitted bill.
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City
of Carlsbad on the 9th day of June, 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
_____________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
_____________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
June 9, 2026 Item #4 Page 6 of 13
Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
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Exhibit 2
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-103
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THAT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS CONSOLIDATE THE CITY’S GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY NOV.
3, 2026
WHEREAS, under Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 1.12.020, the City’s general municipal
election must be held on the same date as the statewide general election; and
WHEREAS, the next statewide general election will be held on Nov. 3, 2026; and
WHEREAS, under Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.04.080, the City’s transition to district
elections requires the selection of the Mayor, City Council Member District 1, City Council Member
District 3, City Treasurer and City Clerk at the election on Nov. 3, 2026.
WHEREAS, it is desirable that the general municipal election be consolidated with the statewide
general election.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That the proposed action is not a “project” as defined by the California Environmental
Quality Act, or CEQA, Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and does
not require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) because
the act of requesting consolidation services is an organizational or administrative
government activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the
environment.
3.That in accordance with California Elections Code Section 10403, the City Council
requests the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to consolidate the general
municipal election with the statewide general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, and to
issue instructions to the Registrar of Voters to take the necessary steps for holding the
consolidated election.
4.That the City Council acknowledges the consolidated election will be held and conducted
in the manner prescribed by California Elections Code 10418.
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5.That in accordance with Article XXIV-A, Section 439.1(2)(d) of the San Diego County Code
of Administrative Ordinances, the City of Carlsbad agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the county, its officers, agents and employees from liability expenses,
including reasonable attorney fees, as the result of an election contest arising after the
conduct of the election, so long as the election contest relates to the city’s general
municipal election and either arises from the conduct of the city or as a result of the
reasonable reliance by county upon information provided by the city.
6.That the City Clerk or designee is directed to file a certified copy of this Resolution with
the Board of Supervisors and the Registrar of Voters in the time and manner required
by law.
7.That the City Clerk or designee shall certify to the passage and adoption of this
Resolution.
8.That the City Council authorizes the City Clerk or designee to administer the general
municipal election.
9.That the city will reimburse the county for the costs incurred for the consolidation upon
the county’s presentation of a properly submitted bill.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City
of Carlsbad on the 9th day of June, 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
_____________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
_____________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
June 9, 2026 Item #4 Page 8 of 13
Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
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Exhibit 3
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-104
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE
OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATES’ STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE
VOTERS AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY
OF CARLSBAD ON TUESDAY, NOV. 3, 2026
WHEREAS, California Elections Code Section 13307 authorizes the City Council to adopt
regulations pertaining to materials prepared by any candidate for a nonpartisan elective office in
the city, including costs of the candidates’ statements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.That the above recitation is true and correct.
2. That the proposed action is not a “project” as defined by the California Environmental
Quality Act, or CEQA, Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and
does not require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3)
because the act of approving regulations pertaining to candidates’ statements is an
organizational or administrative government activity that will not result in direct or
indirect physical changes in the environment.
3.GENERAL PROVISIONS. Each candidate for nonpartisan elective office to be voted for
at the general municipal election to be held in the City of Carlsbad on Nov. 3, 2026,
may prepare a candidate’s statement on an appropriate form provided by the City
Clerk’s Office. The statement may include the name, age and occupation of the
candidate and a brief description of no more than 200 words of the candidate’s
education and qualifications expressed by the candidate. The statement shall not
include any party affiliation of the candidate, nor membership or activity in partisan
political organizations. The statement shall be filed in typewritten form in the City
Clerk’s Office at the time the candidate’s nomination papers are filed. The statement
may be withdrawn, but not changed, during the period for filing nomination papers
and until 5 p.m. of the next working day after the close of the nomination period.
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4.FOREIGN LANGUAGE POLICY
A.Pursuant to the Federal Voting Rights Act, each candidate’s statement will be
translated into all languages required by the San Diego County Registrar of
Voters. The Registrar of Voters is required to translate candidate’s statements
into the following languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Filipino and Chinese.
B.All translations shall be provided by professionally certified translators.
C.The Registrar of Voters will print and mail separate sample ballots and
candidates’ statements in Spanish, Vietnamese, Filipino and Chinese to only
those voters who are in the county voter file as having requested a sample
ballot in a particular language. The Registrar of Voters will make the sample
ballots and candidates’ statements in the required languages available at all
vote center locations, on the county’s website and in the Election Official’s
office.
5.ADDITIONAL MATERIALS. No candidate will be permitted to include additional
materials in the sample ballot package.
6.PAYMENT. The City Clerk or designee shall estimate the total cost of printing,
handling, translating as specified, and mailing the candidates’ statements filed
pursuant to the Elections Code, including costs incurred as a result of complying with
the Federal Voting Rights Act and require each candidate filing a statement to pay in
advance the candidate’s estimated pro rata share of $1,100 for district seats and
$1,200 for at-large seats, as a condition of having the candidate’s statement included
in the voter information guide. The estimated amount is just an approximation of the
actual cost that varies from one election to another election and may be significantly
more or less than the estimate, depending on the actual number of candidates filing
statements and the number of registered voters in the city. Accordingly, the City Clerk
or designee is not bound by the estimate and may, on a pro rata basis, bill the
candidate for additional actual expense or refund any excess paid depending on the
final actual cost.
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7.Each candidate shall pay a $25.00 fee at the time the nomination papers are filed in
the City Clerk’s Office. The City Clerk’s Office shall provide each candidate, or the
candidate’s representative, a copy of this Resolution at the time nominating petitions
are issued.
8.This Resolution shall apply only to the general municipal election to be held on
Nov. 3, 2026.
9.The City Clerk or designee shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City
of Carlsbad on the 9th day of June, 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
______________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
______________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
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1
Morgen Fry
From:Lau, Liliana <Liliana.Lau@sdcounty.ca.gov>
Sent:Monday, March 30, 2026 6:44 PM
To:Faviola Medina
Cc:Vargas, Elvira; Morgen Fry; Garcia, Diane
Subject:RE: Election Costs
Hi Faviola,
My apologies for the oversight.
We don’t have all the jurisdictions that will be ultimately participating in the election. The Registrar of Voters
assign election costs in a consolidated election using a weighted average method. This attributes costs to each
jurisdiction based on the number of contests, number of registered voters, number of candidates and the number
of pages in the voter information pamphlet. The number of participating jurisdictions and number of contests will
be known by the 88th day before the respective election date. The actual costs are likely to vary depending on how
many jurisdictions ultimately participate and voter turnout.
Currently, the cost projection for the November 3, 2026 General Election is:
CARLSBAD - Mayor: $40K - $65K based on 84,064 registered voters
CARLSBAD - City Clerk: $40K - $65K
CARLSBAD – Treasurer: $40K - $65K
CARLSBAD - District #1: $15K - $35K
CARLSBAD - District #3: $15K - $35K
Here are the assumptions:
All registered voters will receive their official ballot in the mail, along with the “I Voted” stickers.
Pre-paid postage for all voters to return their ballot in the mail.
Ballot drop-off location(s) for a 28-day period, which requires renting vehicle(s) and hiring temporary staff
to pick-up ballots.
Vote Centers are open starting 11-days before Election Day.
Translation of materials to all federal mandated languages (Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipino) and
state languages for some election materials.
ROV hires temporary election workers 90 - 120 days before election day to assist with election activities
and these workers are usually kept until the election has been certified.
Two-card ballot based on the assumption that there will be 10-12 state propositions and 1 county measure
appearing on the ballot.
New printing contract for the voter information guide (8 ½” x 11”). If the jurisdiction allows it, the
jurisdiction can post the text measure online and print the ballot summary, impartial analysis, fiscal impact
statement, arguments, and rebuttals. The translation of the text measure is still required.
Higher temporary labor costs due to the anticipated increase in fast food workers hourly rate and difficulty
hiring temporary election workers.
Thanks,
Liliana
Exhibit 4
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2
From: Faviola Medina <Faviola.Medina@carlsbadca.gov>
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2026 4:55 PM
To: Lau, Liliana <Liliana.Lau@sdcounty.ca.gov>
Cc: Vargas, Elvira <Elvira.Vargas@sdcounty.ca.gov>; Morgen Fry <Morgen.Fry@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: [External] RE: Election Costs
Hi Liliana,
Just following up on this. Could we please have an estimated cost for the District 1, District 3, Mayor, City Clerk and City
Treasurer seats for the Nov. 2026 election?
Thank you,
Faviola Medina, MMC
Director of Constuent & Clerk Services
City Manager’s Office
P: 442-339-5989
From: Faviola Medina
Sent: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 12:43 PM
To: Lau, Liliana <liliana.lau@sdcounty.ca.gov>
Cc: Vargas, Elvira <elvira.vargas@sdcounty.ca.gov>; Morgen Fry <Morgen.Fry@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Election Costs
Hi Liliana,
Could we please have an estimated cost for the District 1, District 3, Mayor, City Clerk and City Treasurer seats for the
Nov. 2026 election?
Thank you,
Faviola Medina, MMC
Director of Constuent & Clerk Services
City Manager’s Office
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
P: 442-339-5989 | faviola.medina@carlsbadca.gov | www.carlsbadca.gov
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