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Date: January 13, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
By: Crystal Cammarota, Deputy City Clerk III | [email protected] Subject: City Clerk – Adopt RESOLUTIONS Calling 2026 General Municipal Election on June 2, 2026. Expenditure: Approximately $754,019.19 (General Fund).
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the City Clerk that City Council:
1. Adopt a RESOLUTION calling a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, for the purpose of electing Mayor, three Councilmembers for Districts 1, 3, and 5; City Clerk and City Treasurer; and
2. Adopt a RESOLUTION requesting the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to agree to consolidate the election on the Statewide Direct Primary Ballot; and
3. Adopt a RESOLUTION stating policy and regulations for candidate’s statements.
FUNDING
Funding is available in the City Clerk’s fiscal year 2025-2026 operating budget.
DISCUSSION
The City Clerk, serving, as the election official is required to call the election, request services from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for a consolidated election, and prepare for a regular General Municipal Election for all candidates according to provisions of the Charter and the California Elections Code.
The 2026 ballot will have on it the election of Mayor, three Councilmembers for Districts 1, 3, and 5, City Clerk and City Treasurer, each for a full term of four years.
All candidates for office are required to file a Fair Political Practice Commission (FPPC) Form 501 Notice of Intention Statement with the City Clerk. Candidates are to follow all (FPPC) campaign finance regulations; obtain all filing documents from the City Clerk; and submit an official Nomination Petition, obtained from the City Clerk, containing the signatures of no less than twenty but no more than thirty registered Torrance voters. Councilmembers for Districts 1, 3, and 5, may obtain signatures from their respective Districts only. 1 10C
City Council
December 25, 2025
The candidate nomination-filing period will open by appointment Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and close Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. for the elective offices of the City of Torrance (City) for Mayor, City Council Districts 1, 3, and 5, City Clerk, and City Treasurer. Please note City Hall is closed Friday, March 6. If any eligible incumbent candidate does not file within the nomination filing period, the nomination closing date for only the applicable office(s) will extend five days to a closing date of Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS
Three resolutions for your consideration are included. The first resolution calls for June 2, 2026, General Municipal Election (Attachment 1). The City Clerk will post the information contained in this resolution on the City Hall public notice board as defined in the California Elections Code and by publication in the Daily Breeze at least 113 days prior to the election. The City Clerk will also post the information on the City’s website.
The second resolution requests approval of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to allow consolidation on the Los Angeles County ballot (Attachment 2). This is a required step which assures the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder / County Clerk (RRCC) that the City will pay our election costs. The 2026 election estimate from the RRCC is $754,019.19 for one Mayor position, three district City Council positions, one City Clerk position, and one City treasurer position.
The third resolution adopts candidate regulations pertaining to materials prepared by any candidate for a municipal election (Attachment 3).
CANDIDATE REGULATIONS
California law allows candidates running for nonpartisan offices to have an optional candidate statement of no more than 200 words included in the voter information portion of the sample ballot pamphlet. The City Council may authorize an increase for the candidate statement from 200 to 400 words. It has been Councils policy in past elections to limit this statement to no more than 200 words and the current resolution states the limit as 200 words.
In a consolidated election, the RRCC charges the City their vendor costs for printing candidates’ statements. The resolution for 2026 states the candidate will be responsible for the printing costs.
The cost for city-wide is estimated at $1,898.68 per candidate. For district races the estimated cost is $780.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution 2026-06 – Calling Election
2. Resolution 2026-07 – Requesting Consolidation
3. Resolution 2026-08 – Candidate Regulations
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8 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-06
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR THE HOLDING
OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2026, FOR THE ELECTION
OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE
PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER
WHEREAS, under the provisions of the Charter, a General Municipal Election shall be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, for the election of Municipal Officers; and
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
That pursuant to the requirements of the Charter, there is called and ordered to be held in the City of Torrance, California, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, a General Municipal Election for the purpose of electing a Mayor for the full term of four years; Members of the City Council for Districts 1, 3, and 5, for the full term of four years; a City Clerk for the full term of four years; and a City Treasurer for the full term of four years.
SECTION 2.
That the ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and content as required by law.
SECTION 3.
That 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.
That in all particulars not recited in this resolution, the election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections.
SECTION 5.
That 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.
SECTION 6.
That 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 Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, the City Council, in accordance with Election Code § 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. 3 2
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SECTION 7.
That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original Resolutions.
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.
INTRODUCED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 13th day of January 2026.
Mayor George K. Chen
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Patrick Q. Sullivan, City Attorney
ATTEST:
Rebecca Poirier, MMC, City Clerk
4 ATTACHMENT 2
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-07
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
TO CONSOLIDATE A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 2, 2026, WITH THE STATEWIDE
PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE DATE
PURSUANT TO § 10403 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Torrance called a General Municipal Election to be held on June 2, 2026, for the purpose of the election of Mayor, three Members of the City Council for Districts 1, 3, and 5; City Clerk, and City Treasurer, and WHEREAS, it is desirable that the General municipal election be consolidated with the Statewide Primary election to be held on the same date and that within the city the precincts, vote centers and election officers of the two elections be the same, and that the county election department of the County of Los Angeles 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 TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
That pursuant to the requirements of § 10403 of the 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 election on June 2, 2026, for the purpose of the election of Mayor, three Members of the City Council for Districts 1, 3, and 5, City Clerk, and City Treasurer.
SECTION 2.
That the City of Torrance acknowledges that the consolidated election will be held and conducted in the manner prescribed in California Elections Code § 10418 and Government Code 10403(a)(3).
SECTION 3.
That the county election department is authorized to canvass the returns of the General Municipal Election. The election shall be held in all respects as if there were only one election, and only one form of ballot shall be used. The election will be held and conducted in accordance with the provisions of law regulating the statewide election.
SECTION 4.
That the Board of Supervisors is requested to issue instructions to the county election department to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the consolidated election.
SECTION 5.
That the City of Torrance recognizes that additional costs will be incurred by the County by reason 5 3
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0 of this consolidation and agrees to reimburse the County for any costs.
SECTION 6.
That the City Clerk is hereby directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the Board of Supervisors and the county election department of the County of Los Angeles.
SECTION 7.
That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
INTRODUCED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 13th day of January 2026.
Mayor George K. Chen
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Patrick Q. Sullivan, City Attorney
ATTEST:
Rebecca Poirier, MMC, City Clerk
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9 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-08
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS
FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING
TO CANDIDATES STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE
VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY,
JUNE 2, 2026
WHEREAS, §13307 of the Elections Code of the State of California provides that the governing body of any local agency adopt regulations pertaining to materials prepared by any candidate for a municipal election, including costs of the candidates statement;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
That pursuant to §13307 of the Elections Code of the State of California, each candidate for elective office to be voted for at an Election to be held in the City of Torrance on June 2, 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 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 form 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 FOREIGN LANGUAGE POLICY
A. Pursuant to the Federal Voting Rights Act, candidate statements will be translated into all languages required by the County of Los Angeles. The County is required to translate candidate’s statements into the following languages: Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Khmer, Thai, Hindi, Armenian, Farsi, Gujarati, Indonesian and Telugu or other currently required languages as of the date of this resolution.
B. The County will print and mail sample ballots and candidates statements to all voters. The County will mail separate sample ballots and candidates statements in a required language to only those voters who are on the county voter file as having requested a sample ballot in a particular language. The County will make the sample ballots and candidates statements in the required languages available at all vote centers, on the County’s website, and in the Election Official’s office.
SECTION 3 PAYMENT
A. Translations:
1. The candidate shall not be required to pay for the cost of translating the candidates statement into any required foreign language as specified in subsection (A) or subsection (B) of Section 2 above pursuant to Federal and\or State law.
2. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of translating the candidates statement into any foreign language that is not required as specified in subsection (A) of Section 2 above, pursuant to Federal and\or State law, but is requested as an option by the candidate. 7 2
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B. Printing:
1. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidates statement in English in the sample ballot. If the candidate wishes their candidate statement to also be printed in Spanish in the English sample ballot, the candidate will be required to pay for the translation and printing cost.
2. The candidate shall not be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidates statement in a foreign language required in subsection (A) of Section 2 above, in the sample ballot.
3. The candidate shall not be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidates statement in a foreign language requested by the candidate per subsection (B) of Section 2 above, in the sample ballot.
4. The candidate shall not be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidates statement in a foreign language required by subsection (A) or subsection (B) of Section 2 above, in the facsimile sample ballot or as noted in the most current Los Angeles County Candidate Handbook and Resources Guide.
The candidate is required to pay in advance to the local agency SECTION 4 MISCELLANEOUS
A) All translations shall be provided by professionally-certified translators.
B) The City Clerk shall allow bold type, underlining, capitalization, indentations, bullets, and leading hyphens to the same extent and manner as allowed by the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder as noted in the most current Los Angeles County Candidate Handbook and Resources Guide.
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 5 ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
No candidate will be permitted to include additional materials in the sample ballot package.
SECTION 6
That 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 7
That this resolution shall apply only to the election to be held on June 2, 2026 and shall then be repealed.
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SECTION 8
That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
INTRODUCED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 13th day of January 2026.
Mayor George K. Chen
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Patrick Q. Sullivan, City Attorney
ATTEST:
Rebecca Poirier, MMC, City Clerk
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