CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR ORANGE COUNTY CITY MEASURES
NOVEMBER 3, 2026 GENERAL ELECTION
For City Clerk Use Only
Shown below is a sequence of events, including statutory deadlines and Registrar of Voters’ administrative deadlines, leading to the General Election on November 3, 2026. This sequence shows the actions a City Council would need to take to place a city measure on the ballot.
The Registrar of Voters’ recommended administrative deadlines will enable City Clerks to establish deadlines for the submittal of filings related to a measure, which provide a reasonable time to prepare the election material, the full 10-day public examination periods for the submitted filings, and sufficient time to resolve a petition for writ of mandate challenging any of the election materials without substantially interfering with the conduct of the election.
It is statutorily permissible for a City Council to order a city measure election up until 88 days before Election Day. If an election is ordered less than 109 days before Election Day, the Registrar of Voters would endeavor to conduct the election as ordered and would recommend the City Clerk set expedited filing deadlines for election materials. Even with such shortened deadlines, there would not be much time left for a court to resolve a legal challenge without impacting the conduct of the election.
All statutory references are to the Elections Code, unless stated otherwise.
July 1, 2026
(E-125)
Jurisdictional boundary changes must occur no later than 125 days before an election and be provided to the Registrar of Voters to be effective for purposes of that election. §12262
July 17, 2026
(E-109)
The Registrar of Voters requests that a City Council by this date adopt a Resolution(s) to order a city measure election to be consolidated with the General Election and to request the election services of the Registrar of Voters. The City must submit the Resolution(s) to the Board of Supervisors with a copy to the Registrar of Voters.
If the City wishes to have the full text of the measure printed in the County Voter Information Guide, the Registrar of Voters requests the City submit the full text by this date.
§§ 9286, 1415, 9222,9295, 9255, 10002, 10201, 10403, 10418, Govt.
Code § 34458
July 31, 2026
(E-95)
Recommended date for filing measure ordinance text, direct arguments, a city attorney impartial analysis and a fiscal impact statement (if applicable). If your Council adopts a Resolution prior to July 31, 2026, adjust the material submission deadline dates accordingly. §§ 9280, 9281, 9282, 9286
Attachment 5
52 When filing direct arguments, the parties must provide a list of supporters or opponents to the city measure that will be printed on the ballot. The list must not exceed 125 characters in length including spaces, commas, semicolons, and other characters. § 9170 August 1, 2026
through
August 10, 2026
(E-94 – 85)
Public Review period for the measure ordinance text, impartial analysis, direct arguments, and fiscal impact statement, if applicable.
Measure documents will also be posted on the Registrar of Voters website. During the Public Review period, any voter may seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring any of these materials to be amended or deleted. § 9295
August 7, 2026
(E-88)
Statutory deadline for a City Council to request consolidation of a city election with the General Election by submitting a Resolution to the Board of Supervisors with a copy to the Registrar of Voters. §§ 9222, 10403
August 10, 2026
(E-85)
Registrar of Voters will email measure letter designations to cities that have measures on the ballot. § 13116
August 10, 2026
(E-85)
Recommended deadline for filing of rebuttal arguments. Rebuttals must be filed 10 days after the direct arguments. § 9285 August 11, 2026
through
August 20, 2026
(E-84 – 75)
Public Review period for rebuttal arguments. Only Rebuttal Arguments are subject to legal action during this public review period. § 9295 August 12, 2026
(E-83)
Statutory deadline for City Council to submit a resolution to the City Clerk to withdraw a prior city measure order of election. § 9605 August 28, 2026
(E-67)
The Registrar of Voters requests that the Court issue a potential order to change measure ordinance text, impartial analysis, financial impact, and direct and rebuttal arguments by this date to ensure Registrar of Voters can meet election material mailing deadlines. § 9295 September 19, 2026
(E-45)
Statutory deadline for Registrar of Voters to issue ballots and Voter Information Guides to military and overseas voters. § 3105 September 24, 2026
(E-40)
Voter Information Guide mailing begins approximately this date.
Mailing completed by October 13, 2026 (E-21). § 13303(a) October 5, 2026
(E-29)
Ballot mailing to active registered voters begins. All Vote-By-Mail ballots will be issued through the Registrar of Voters. Requests for replacement mail ballots should be forwarded to the Registrar of Voters. §§ 3000.5, 3001, 3014, 4005(a)(8)(A)
October 5, 2026
(E-29)
Ballot drop boxes are open this day through Election Day. § 4005(a)(1)(B)
October 19, 2026
(E-15)
Last day to register to vote for the November 3, 2026 General Election. § 2102
October 20, 2026
through
November 3, 2026
(E-14 – E-0)
Conditional Voter Registration period. During the 14 days prior to Election Day and including Election Day, an individual can go to the office of their county elections official, a satellite office, or to a Vote Center to conditionally register to vote and vote a provisional ballot. § 2170
53 October 24, 2026
(E-10)
Beginning 10 days before the day of the election and continuing daily up to Election Day, select Vote Centers are open to the public. § 4005(a)(4)
October 31, 2026
(E-3)
Beginning 3 days before the day of the election and continuing daily up to Election Day, additional Vote Centers are open to the public. § 4005(a)(3)
November 3, 2026
(E-0)
Election Day. All Vote Centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Ballots will be centrally tallied at the Registrar of Voters’ office. §§ 1000, 14212
December 3, 2026
(E+30)
Registrar of Voters will certify on or before this date. §§ 15372, 15375 54