Municipal Elections

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Municipal Election General Information

There are five (5) elected positions in the City of Encinitas: one (1) Mayor elected at-large and four (4) City Council Members. Beginning with the General Municipal Election in November 2018, Council Members will be elected by districts in four single-member districts. For more information, visit the Elected Officials page.

General Municipal Elections are conducted every even-numbered year and are consolidated with the State General Election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November.

The next General Municipal Election will be held on November 5, 2024 for the purpose of electing the following

One (1) Mayor for a full two-year term with the term expiring in November 202
Two (2) City Council Members:

One (1) Council Member to represent District 1 for a full four-year term with a term expiring November 2028

One (1) Council Member to represent District 2 for a full four-year term with a term expiring November 2028

Candidate Filing Period

The candidate filing period is Monday, July 15, 2024, to Friday, August 9, 2024. All candidates for Mayor must be registered voters of the City of Encinitas at the time nomination papers are issued. All City Council Candidates must be registered voters and reside in the district they are seeking to represent.

If the incumbent for Mayor or either district seat does not file by the August 9, 2024, deadline, the deadline for that position will be extended to August 14, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., for non-incumbent candidates only.

Nomination Papers may be obtained from and returned to the City Clerk by appointment, from July 15, 2024, through August 9, 2024, during normal working hours as follows:

Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Open Fridays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed on the following Fridays - July 19, 2024, and August 2, 2024)

For more information on running for office in Encinitas or to set an appointment to obtain nomination papers, please contact Kathy Hollywood at 760-633-2601

Voting District Maps and Information

The following maps and address lists have been updated with the newly adopted district map information.

For information regarding the current Re-Districting process for District Based Elections, please visit the City Council Redistricting page.

City Council Current Officeholders

Per Encinitas Municipal Code Section 2.20.010, on the second Tuesday of each December of even numbered years, the newly elected Mayor and Council Members will be sworn in. Per Encinitas Municipal Code Section 2.20.030, at the first regular City Council meeting in December of odd numbered years and the second Tuesday of each December in even numbered years, the City Council shall choose one of its members as Deputy Mayor. Visit the City of Encinitas Elected Officials webpage for more information.

Tony Kranz - Mayor
- Elected on November 8, 2022
- Term expires November 2024*
Allison Blackwell - Council Member District 1
- Appointed on January 18, 2023 (to fill unexpired term of Tony Kranz who was elected Mayor on November 8, 2022)
- Term expires November 2024*
Kellie Shay Hinze - Council Member District 2
- Elected on November 3, 2020
- Term expires November 2024*
Joy Lyndes - Council Member District 3
- Elected November 8, 2022
- Term expires November 2026*
Bruce Ehlers - Council Member District 4
- Elected on November 8, 2022
- Term expires November 2026*

*terms expire with the certification of the November election which takes place on the second Tuesday of December in even-numbered years

Campaign Statements Filed with the City Clerk's Office

View campaign statements filed by Council Members, candidates, and campaign committees.

Form 700 - Statement of Economic Interests - Mayor/Council Members/Candidates

Running for Local Office

General Qualifications for Candidates

Age & Citizenship

A candidate must be 18 years of age and a citizen of the state (Government Code Section 1020).

By-District Election

On November 15, 2017 the City Council adopted Ordinance 2017-15 establishing a by-district election process with four single-member Council districts.

Following every federal decennial census, local governments that conduct elections using district-based voting are required to commence a formal redistricting process as prescribed by the California Elections Code, based upon the new Census. Check out more information regarding the current Re-Districting process for District Based Elections.

Consistent with Chapter 2.20 of the Encinitas Municipal Code, Council Members were elected in Council Districts 3 and 4 at the general municipal election held on November 8, 2018. The Council Members from Council Districts 1 and 2 shall be elected beginning at the general municipal election to be held on November 3, 2020.

Residency Requirements

Mayor: Candidates for Mayor must be a resident and registered voter of the City of Encinitas.
Council Member: A candidate elected to represent a district must reside in that district and be a registered voter in that district. Any candidate for City Council must live in, and be a registered voter in, the district in which he or she seeks election at the time nomination papers are issued, pursuant to California Government Code Section 34882 and Elections Code Section 10227.

Termination of residency in a district by a Council Member shall create an immediate vacancy for that council district unless a substitute residence within the district is established within 30 days after the termination of residency.

Conviction of Crimes

A person is disqualified from holding any office upon conviction of designated crimes as specified in the Constitution and the laws of the State of California (Government Code Section 1021).

Campaign Reporting Requirements for Candidates

Campaign Basics Fast Facts
- For Candidates spending $2,000 or more
Candidate Toolkit - Important candidate information for before, during and after the election.
- Form 501 Candidate Intention Statement - the Form 501 is filed each election by candidates for local office. Original to be filed with the City Clerk.
- Form 410 Statement of Organization - the Form 410 must be filed within 10 days of receiving $2,000 in contributions. When filing the Form 410, include a $50 payment made payable to the Secretary of State. If your committee has not yet reached the $2,000 threshold, mark the “not yet qualified” box. The $50 fee is requested at this time but is not legally required until the group qualifies as a committee. Original to be filed with the Secretary or State and a copy filed with the City Clerk.
- Form 460 - the Form 460 is filed by recipient committees to report expenditures and contributions before, during and after the election. The Form 460 can be used to file a pre-election statement, semi-annual statement, quarterly statement, termination statement, special odd-year report, or an amendment to a previously filed statement.
- Candidate Disclosure Manual 2 for Local Candidates

Using the links above, become familiar with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) website, candidate filing requirements included in Campaign Disclosure Manual, and filing deadlines. The FPPC will be conducting a candidate and treasurer seminar that will provide information on campaign reporting, and Political Reform Act's requirements and prohibitions. Forms may be obtained in hard copy from the City Clerk or electronically from the FPPC’s website (link above).

City of Encinitas Local Contribution Limits

The City of Encinitas has local contribution limits as follows (Encinitas Municipal Code Chapter 2.16)

No contributor shall contribute more than $250 total to any candidate or their controlled committee, for any one election.
No contributor shall contribute more than $250 total, for any one election, to any committee, as defined in Section 2.16.010B, formed to support or oppose a candidate.

The above limits shall not apply to candidates' contributions of his/her personal funds to his/her own campaign account.

Campaign Sign Regulations

Ordinance No. 2016-03 was adopted on January 27, 2016 and went into effect on February 27, 2016. The Ordinance amends EMC Chapter 2.16 to remove time limits for signs displaying political or other noncommercial messages, whereby the display of such signs is permitted at all times. Please note the provisions allow for an unlimited number of signs at all times with the property owner’s permission but there are size limits for each individual sign.

Campaign Signs FAQ
EMC Municipal Code 2.16
Please note: It is illegal to remove campaign signs from private property without authorization from the property owner and/or tenant.

Voter Registration Information

You may check your voter registration status with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters Office to make sure you are eligible to vote in the next election. You must be registered to vote at least 15 days before an election. If the registration deadline has passed for an upcoming election, you may visit the Registrar’s office during the 14 days prior to, and on Election Day, to conditionally register and vote provisionally.

Voting material mailings begin 29 days before the election. To make sure your voting materials are promptly delivered to you, please verify that you are registered correctly.

If you have recently submitted a voter registration form, please note that it can take several days to process your registration.

You Can Register to Vote in California, if you are:

A U.S. Citizen
A California Resident
At least 18 years of age on or before the next election
Not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction
Not declared mentally incompetent by court action

Voter registration forms are available on-line at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters website. Citizens can fill in the registration form on-line, print and sign, and mail to the Registrar of Voters.

Information Resources

Kathy Hollywood, City Clerk
khollywood@encinitasca.gov
760-633-2601
Secretary of State
www.sos.ca.gov
800-345-VOTE (8683)
Fair Political Practices Commission
www.fppc.ca.gov
866-ASK-FPPC (275-3772)
San Diego County Registrar of Voters
www.sdvote.com
800-696-0136
County of San Diego website
State of California website

The information on this webpage is not all encompassing; it merely summarizes the basic requirements to establish candidacy. Candidates, political committees, and anyone interested in elective office should not, therefore, rely solely on this information, but should seek legal counsel or contact the City Clerk’s Office for more detailed information at (760) 633-2601.

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