City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: June 8, 2026
Report #:2604-6299
TITLE
Adoption of a Resolution Calling for a General Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2026; CEQA Status – Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached Resolution calling for a General Municipal Election for three City Councilmember seats for November 3, 2026, authorizing consolidation of the election, and contracting for election services with Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters (ROV), and
2. Direct the City Clerk to use the Secretary of State’s randomized alphabet drawing to determine the order of candidates’ names on the ballot.
BACKGROUND
Attached is a Resolution calling for a General Municipal Election for three City Councilmember seats on November 3, 2026, requesting the services of Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters (ROV), and requesting consolidation of the General Municipal Election with any other election called for this jurisdiction for this date.
The terms of the following Councilmembers expire on December 31, 2026 and will be on the November ballot: Ed Lauing, Julie Lythcott-Haims, and Vicki Veenker. All three Councilmembers have each served one full term and are eligible to seek re-election on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
The Palo Alto Charter requires that the order of candidates’ names on the ballot be determined by lot1. The City Clerk recommends that the City Council continue prior practice and direct that the Charter requirement be implemented by using the randomized alphabet drawing conducted 1 Palo Alto Charter, Article VII, Section 3: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-0- 0-59473
by the California Secretary of State to determine the order in which candidates appear on the ballot.
The attached resolution provides that a tie vote (upon the canvass of returns or after a recount) be resolved by lot, which is the default procedure under state law. If the City Council prefers, it may direct staff to revise the attached resolution to provide that a tie be resolved through a special run-off election to be held not less than 40 or more than 125 days after the certification of the tie vote.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The estimated cost of the November 3, 2026 election including the three City Councilmember seats and translation into several languages is approximately $216,192 as provided by the Santa Clara County ROV. The proposed FY 2027 Budget currently includes funding of $200,000 for councilmember election costs.
Table 1: Summary of Election Costs (from ROV)
Ballot Item Estimated Cost
City Councilmember Seats $ 193,632
Candidate Statements (est. 6 candidate statements) $ 22,560 Estimated Total $216,192
On May 18, 2026, the City Council directed staff to pursue a ballot measure for a ½ cent sales tax in the November 2026 election. This item is on the Council’s agenda for June 8, 2026. Placing this sales tax measure on the ballot is estimated to cost an additional $100,293 and is funded by the General Fund Real Property Investment Reserve.
Assuming the City Councilmember seats and the potential ½ cent sales tax measure, estimated election costs will total $316,485.
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors is expected to consider an updated fee schedule in June, and the Registrar of Voters will update the cost estimated to reflect the increased fees should the Board approve the new schedule. Assuming costs would increase, budget amendments in FY 2027 may be necessary and would be brought forward later.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The attached Resolution is not a project under section 15378(b)(5) of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (administrative activities that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Resolution Calling for a General Municipal Election on November 3, 2026 APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk