Item No. 14.
TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
BY:ALICIA DUARTE, CITY CLERK
DATE:MAY 26, 2026
SUBJECT:ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS PERTAINING TO THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR COUNCIL DISTRICTS 2 AND 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider adopting resolutions that will call the General Municipal Election to be held November 3, 2026, for Council Districts 2 and 4, including resolutions requesting Consolidation of the Election from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors with the Statewide California General Election and adopting regulations for candidates’ statements submitted to the voters at the General Municipal Election.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 26-8354, calling for the holding of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 for the Election of Certain Officers as required by the provisions of the City of Downey Charter;
2. Adopt Resolution No. 26-8355, requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles to consolidate the City’s General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date pursuant to Section 10403 of the California Elections Code; and,
3. Adopt Resolution No. 26-8356, adopting regulations for candidates for elective office pertaining to Candidates’ Statements submitted to the voters at a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
DISCUSSION
Attached for City Council consideration are three resolutions that satisfy the requirements for the City’s General Municipal Election pursuant to the Downey City Charter. The first Resolution calls for the holding of the General Municipal Election for two (2) City Council seats, one from Council District 2 and one from Council District 4, to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026; the second Resolution requests the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County to consolidate the City’s election with the Statewide General Election and requests the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk canvass the returns of the election. The final Resolution establishes regulations for candidate statements and includes requirements of the Voting Rights Act relative to the foreign language policy.
ANALYSIS
The offices for Council District Nos. 2 and 4 to be filled for this election are for a full term of four (4) years. The filing period for nomination papers and candidate statements is July 13 to August 7, 2026.
Pursuant to Sections 10400 - 10418 of the Elections Code of the State of California and provisions of law in the California Government Code, these Resolutions must be adopted in order to proceed with the General Municipal Election. Therefore, it would be appropriate for the City Council to call the election, request its consolidation with the Statewide General Election, and establish regulations for candidate statements.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Public Engagement
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended actions will have no immediate fiscal impact. Funding in the amount of $125,000 for the November 2026 Election has been included in Account No. 10-4-1135-0700 as part of the proposed Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Budget. The actual cost of the Election will be invoiced to the City by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk after the election concludes and expenditures are calculated and divided among the other cities consolidating their city election with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
Attachments
Attachment A: Resolution No. 26-8354 - Calling for Election 2026 Attachment B: Resolution No. 26-8355 - Consolidating with LA County Attachment C: Resolution No. 26-8356 - Candidate Statement 2026
RESOLUTION NO. 26-8354
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY CALLING
FOR THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS
AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY CITY
CHARTER
WHEREAS, City of Downey City Charter Section 1300 provides that all General Municipal Elections for the election of officers of the City and for such other purposes as the City Council may prescribe shall be held on the same date and at the same time as the Statewide General Election; and
WHEREAS, Charter Section 1302 provides that all municipal elections shall be governed by State law except as otherwise provided in the City Charter or ordinance enacted by the City Council and not inconsistent with the Charter.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to Downey City Charter Sections 1300 and 1302 and the laws of the State of California applicable to charter cities, the City Council of the City of Downey hereby calls and orders to be held in the City of Downey, California, a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of electing two (2) members of the City Council for a full term of four (4) years. One member shall be elected from and by the voters of District 2; and one member shall be elected from and by the voters of District 4.
SECTION 2. The ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and content as required by law.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to coordinate with the County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk 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.
SECTION 4. The vote center locations and hours of operations, ballot drop box locations and hours of operations, vote-by-mail procedures and timing, the election officers, and all other persons and procedures for the General Municipal Election shall be the same as those utilized by the County of Los Angeles and in compliance with the Elections Code of the State of California.
In addition, the polls/vote centers for the election shall be open at seven o’clock a .m. of the same day of the election and shall remain open continuously from that time until 8 o’clock p .m. when the polls shall be closed pursuant to Elections Code Section 10242, except as provided in Section 14401 of the Elections Code.
SECTION 5. In all particulars not recited in this Resolution, the election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections.
SECTION 6. The notice of the time and place of holding the election is given and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in time, form, and manner as required by law.
RESOLUTION NO. 26-8354
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SECTION 7. 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 County of Los Angels Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk, the City Council, in accordance with Elections Code Section 15651(a), shall set a date and time and place and summon the candidates who have received the tie votes to appear and will determine the tie by lot.
SECTION 8. The City Council authorizes the City Clerk to administer said election and all reasonable and actual election expenses shall be paid by the City upon presentation of a properly submitted bill.
SECTION 9. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and shall cause notice of the election, the offices to be filled, and other matters relating to the election to be given as required by the California Elections Code.
SECTION 10. The City Clerk shall, not later than the 88th day prior to the General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, file with the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk a certified copy of this Resolution.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 26th day of May, 2026.
CLAUDIA M. FROMETA, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CMC
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________
JOHN M. FUNK
City Attorney
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Downey at a Regular meeting held on the 26th day of May, 2026 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Members:
NOES: Council Member:
ABSENT: Council Member:
ABSTAIN: Council Member:
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CMC
City Clerk
RESOLUTION NO. 26-8355
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CONSOLIDATE THE CITY’S GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, WITH THE STATEWIDE
GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE SAME DATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 10403 OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Downey called a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of the election of two (2) Members of the City Council, for full terms of four (4) years. One member shall be elected from and by the voters of District 2; and one member shall be elected from and by the voters of District 4; and.
WHEREAS, it is desirable that the City’s General Municipal Election be consolidated with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date and that within the City the precincts, polling places (vote centers) and election officers of the two elections be the same, and that the County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk canvass the returns of the General Municipal Election and that the election be held in all respects as if there were only one election.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to the requirements of Section 10403 of the California Elections Code, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles is hereby requested to consent and agree to the consolidation of a General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 for the purpose of the election of two (2) Members of the City Council, for a full term of four (4) years.
SECTION 2. The County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk is authorized to canvass the returns of the General Municipal Election of the City of Downey. The election shall be held in all respects as if there were only one election, and only one form of ballot shall be used.
Pursuant to Section 10418 of the California Elections Code, the election will be held and conducted in accordance with the provisions of law regulating the Statewide General Election.
SECTION 3. The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors is requested to issue instructions to the County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the consolidated election.
SECTION 4. The City of Downey recognizes that additional costs will be incurred by the County by reason of this consolidation and agrees to reimburse the County of Los Angeles for any costs upon presentation of reasonably detailed invoices.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk is hereby directed to forward a certified copy of this Resolution to both the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
RESOLUTION NO. 26-8355
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SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 26th day of May, 2026.
CLAUDIA M. FROMETA, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CMC
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________
JOHN M. FUNK
City Attorney
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Downey at a Regular meeting held on the 26th day of May, 2026 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Members:
NOES: Council Member:
ABSENT: Council Member:
ABSTAIN: Council Member:
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CMC
City Clerk
RESOLUTION NO. 26-8356
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATES’ STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS
AT A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY,
NOVEMBER 3, 2026
WHEREAS, Section 13307 of the Elections Code of the State of California provides that the governing body of any local agency shall adopt regulations pertaining to materials prepared by any candidate for a municipal election, including costs of the candidates’ statement; and
WHEREAS, the City of Downey seeks to adopt the regulations below as applicable to the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES HEREBY RESOLVEAS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Pursuant to Sections 13307 and 13308 of the Elections Code of the State of California, each candidate for elective office to be voted for at the General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Downey on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, may prepare a candidate’s statement on an appropriate form provided by the City Clerk. The statement may include the name, age, and occupation of the candidate and a brief description of no more than two hundred (200) words of the candidate’s education and qualifications expressed by the candidate himself or herself. The statement shall not include party affiliation of the candidate, nor membership or activity in partisan political organizations. The statement shall be filed, in typewritten format, in the office of the City Clerk 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 5:00 p.m. of the next working day after the close of the nomination period.
SECTION 2. CITY OF DOWNEY CHARTER PROVISION. In addition to Section 1, pursuant to Section 1307 of the City of Downey City Charter, any candidate for an elective City office may prepare a statement of qualifications in accordance with the restrictions set forth by State law and subject to the following additional restriction: A statement of qualifications shall be limited to a recitation of the candidate’s own personal background and qualifications and shall not in any way make reference to other candidates or to other candidate’s qualifications, character or activities. The City Clerk shall not cause to be printed or circulated any candidate’s statement of qualifications which the City Clerk determines is not so limited or which includes any such references.
SECTION 3. ELECTRONIC STATEMENTS. Pursuant to Section 13307(c) of the California Elections Code, the governing body of the City of Downey authorizes the preparation of candidate statements for nonpartisan elective office for the purpose of electronic distribution.
Candidates will prepare statements for electronic distribution pursuant to Section 13307(a) of the Elections Code. A statement prepared pursuant to this subdivision shall be posted on the internet website of the County Elections Official. Pursuant to Section 13307.7(a) of the Elections Code, candidates shall provide payment of the requisite fee to cover the duties and procedures set forth in Sections 13307(b) and (d) of the Elections Code.
SECTION 4. FOREIGN LANGUAGE POLICY.
A. Pursuant to the Federal Voting Rights Act, candidates’ statements will be translated into all languages required by the County of Los Angeles. The County is required to translate candidates’ statements into the following languages:
RESOLUTION NO 26-8356
PAGE 2
Spanish, Chinese and Korean.
B. The County will mail separate voter information guides and candidates’ statements in Spanish, Chinese and Korean to only those voters who are on the county voter file as having requested a voter information guide in a particular language. The County will make the voter information guides and candidates’ statements in the required languages available at all polling places (vote centers), on the County’s website, and in the Election Official’s office.
SECTION 5. PAYMENT.
A. Translations:
1. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of translating the candidate’s statement into any required foreign language as specified in Section 4 above pursuant to Federal and State law.
2. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of translating the candidate’s statement into any foreign language that is not required as specified in Section 4 above, pursuant to Federal and State law, but is requested as an option by the candidate.
B. Printing:
1. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidate’s statement in English in the main voter information guide.
2. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidate’s statement in a foreign language required in (A) of Section 4 above, in the main voter information guide.
3. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidate’s statement in a foreign language requested by the candidate per (B) of Section 4 above, in the main voter information guide.
4. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidate’s statement in a foreign language required by (A) of Section 4 above, in the facsimile voter information guide.
The City Clerk shall estimate the total cost of printing, handling, translating, and mailing the candidates’ statements filed pursuant to this section, including costs incurred as a result of complying with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (as amended), and require each candidate filing a statement to pay in advance to the local agency his or her estimated pro rata share as a condition of having his or her statement included in the voter’s pamphlet. In the event the estimated payment is required, the estimate 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. Accordingly, the City Clerk 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. In the event of underpayment, the City Clerk may require the candidate to pay the balance of the cost incurred. In the event of overpayment, the City Clerk shall prorate the excess amount among the candidates and refund the excess amount paid within thirty (30) days of the election.
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SECTION 6. MISCELLANEOUS.
A.All translations shall be provided by professionally certified translators as set forth in Elections Code 13307(b).
B.The City Clerk shall comply with formatting and submission guidelines provided by the City Clerk and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
C.The City Clerk shall comply with all recommendations and standards set forth by the California Secretary of State regarding occupational designations and other matters relating to elections.
SECTION 7. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS. No candidate will be permitted to include additional materials in the sample ballot or voter information guide.
SECTION 8. The City Clerk shall provide each candidate or the candidate’s representative a copy of this Resolution at the time nominating petitions are issued.
SECTION 9. All previous resolutions establishing City Council policy on payment for candidate’s statements are hereby repealed.
SECTION 10. This Resolution shall apply only to the General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
SECTION 11. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 26th day of May, 2026.
CLAUDIA M. FROMETA, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CMC
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________
JOHN M. FUNK
City Attorney
RESOLUTION NO 26-8356
PAGE 4
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Downey at a Regular meeting held on the 26th day of May, 2026 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Members:
NOES: Council Member:
ABSENT: Council Member:
ABSTAIN: Council Member:
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CMC
City Clerk