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 (FPPC).

The City Council is made up of a Mayor and six Council members, for a total of seven members. City Council members are nominated by their respective wards and the Mayoral 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 consecutive terms. While, Council members each serve a four-year term, with a maximum of three consecutive four-year terms.  

To be eligible to be elected to the office of Council member, a person must provide proof of residency to be a qualified voter and be a thirty (30) day resident of the ward from which the candidate is nominated at the time nomination papers are issued. To be eligible to be elected to the office of Mayor, a person need only be a registered voter and thirty (30) day resident of the City.

2020 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General Municipal Election will be held in the City of Santa Ana on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 to consider the odd-numbered Council Ward seats 1, 3, 5 and Mayoral seat. Under Santa Ana's new ward map re-boundary election process, voters may only elect one council member for the Council ward they are registered in.  Learn more about our transition to the Ward Map Re-Boundary Election process at www.santa-ana.org/cc/ward-map-re-boundary.

Candidate Filing Period

City Council candidate nomination period opens July 13, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. and will close at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2020. The Santa Ana City Clerk issues and accepts official nomination documents by appointment only during regular business hours, Monday through Thursday and every other Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Unless otherwise noted in the Calendar for Holiday and Closed Friday schedule.

Click here to verify your ward.

By appointment only, to pick up and file nomination papers during business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., please call (714) 647 – 6520 or email cityclerk@santa-ana.org.

The following are key dates for the November 3, 2020, election:

 FPPC Candidates and Controlled Committees Filing Schedule           

Election History

• Election Results – Mayor and City Council (1886-2020)
• Election Results – Measures and Charter Amendments (1886-2018)

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
• Voting Centers (Voting Options)
• 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