Report to City Council
ID: 26-0237 Page 1
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Patty Rodriguez, CMC, Manager of the Office of
Mayor and City Council/City Clerk
AGENDA DATE: June 2, 2026
TITLE: GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION – NOVEMBER 3,
2026: RESOLUTIONS CALLING ELECTION,
REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION WITH STATEWIDE
GENERAL ELECTION, AND ESTABLISHING
REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
(REPORT OF: CITY CLERK) (DISTRICT: ALL
DISTRICTS)
TITLE SUMMARY: General Municipal Election – November 3, 2026
DISTRICT: All Districts
Recommendation(s)
That the City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 2026 -XX Calling and Giving Notice of a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for Certain Officers;
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-XX Requesting the Riverside County Board of Supervisors Consolidate the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election with the November 3, 2026 Statewide General Election Pursuant to Section 10403 of the California Elections Code; and
3. Adopt Resolution No. 2026 -XX Providing for Regulations Pertaining to Materials for Candidates and Costs Pertaining to Candidate Statements submitted to the Voters for the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election.
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SUMMARY
Consistent with long-held City practice, the City Clerk is recommending the City continue to contract with the County of Riverside to provide the necessary election services for the 2026 General Municipal Election, since it falls on the same date as the Statewide General Election. The next General Municipal Election in the City of Moreno Valley is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The purpose of the General Municipal Election is to elect the Mayor for a two -year term and Districts 2 and 4 City Council Members for four -year terms. The California Elections Code requires the adoption of resolutions for the purpose of: 1) calling and giving notice of the Gen eral Municipal Election; 2) requesting that the Board of Supervisors consent to the consolidation of the City’s General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date; and 3) establishing regulations and costs for candidate statements.
DISCUSSION
In order to initiate the election process, the appropriate resolutions must be adopted by the City Council.
Pursuant to California Elections Code, the City may request that the County Board of Supervisors consent to consolidating the Statewide General Election with the City’s General Municipal Election. Under a consolidated election, the County Registrar of Voters (County Registrar) conducts the election in all respects as if there was a single election with multiple offices and measures. The City of Moreno Valley has consolidated its General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election since 1986.
In order to consolidate the City’s General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election, the City Council must adopt resolutions that call and give notice of the City’s General Municipal Election and request that the County Board of Supervisors consent to the consolidation and agree to provide election services. It is also recommended that the City Co uncil adopt a resolution to establish regulations and costs for candidate statements.
The election services that the County Registrar will provide in the Consolidated Election include, but are not limited to, hiring poll workers, establishing polling places, translating ballot information , printing election material , mailing the voter’s ballot pamphlet , and canvassing (tabulating/counting) the ballots. These election services, however, do not include issuing and accepting nomination papers , which will remain the responsibility of the City Clerk.
Tie Votes
The Call for a General Municipal Election includes a process for determining the outcome of a tie vote. For instance, if the County Registrar certifies that any two or more candidates who received an equal number of votes and the highest number of votes, the City Council must have a predetermined method for selecting the winner. Pursuant to
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Elections Code Section 15651 (a), the City may select to settle ties by lot, which the City has traditionally selected as the chosen method for deciding tie votes. As an alternative, pursuant to Elections Code Section 15651 (b), the City Council may request that the County schedule and conduct a run -off election. This determination, however, must be made prior to the election.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Adopt all three Resolutions calling for the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election, requesting consolidation with the Statewide General Election, and establishing regulations and costs for candidate statements, as presented. [ Staff recommends this alternative.]
2. Do not request consolidation with the Statewide General Election and direct the City Clerk to conduct a stand-alone General Municipal Election. [Staff DOES NOT recommend this alternative.]
FISCAL IMPACT
The City Clerk’s current annual budget includes $485,000 to conduct a consolidated November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election. The County of Riverside, however, is expected to provide more current cost estimates for this year’s consolidated election, which may require an adjustment in the City Clerk’s current budget. It is important to note that if the City’s General Municipal Election is not consolidated with the Statewide General Election, the cost of conducting a stand -alone General Municipal Election may be significantly higher.
NOTIFICATION
Posting of agenda and subsequent publication of Notice of Election.
PREPARATION OF STAFF REPORT
Prepared By: Department Head Approval:
Patty Rodriguez, CMC, Patty Rodriguez, CMC
Manager of the Office and Mayor and City Council/City Clerk Manager of the Office of Mayor and City Council/City Clerk
Concurrence by:
Steven B. Quintanilla
City Attorney
CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
5. Beautification, Community Engagement, and Quality of Life
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Report Approval Details
Document
Title:
STAFFREPORT_CC_CALLING_NOVEMBER2026_GENERAL_MUNICI
PAL_ELECTION.docx
Attachme
nts:
- RESOLUTION - CALLING 2026 GENERAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION.docx
- RESOLUTION - REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION.docx
- RESOLUTION - CANDIDATE STATEMENTS.docx
Final
Approval
Date:
May 28, 2026
This report and all of its attachments were approved and signed as outlined below:
Patty Rodriguez
Natalia Medina
Felicia London, MPA
Launa Jimenez
Brian Mohan
Patty Rodriguez