Election and Voter Information
To register to vote, check voter status, or learn about how to vote, please click on the icons below.
The City Clerk’s Office provides voter registration forms during office hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM @ 330 W. 20th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403.
2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election - June 2, 2026
Election Information for the Primary Election can be found on the County Elections website.
2026 General Election - November 3, 2026
City of San Mateo City Council Election - Districts 1, 3, and 5
This November, voters will elect Council Members for Districts 1, 3, and 5. Interested in running for City Council? Contact the City Clerk's Office for more information:
clerk@cityofsanmateo.org
(650) 522-7040
2025 Statewide Special Election Results
Results for the 2025 Statewide Special Election - November 4, 2025, can be found on the Secretary of State's website. Information for local voters can be found on the County of San Mateo Elections website.
Generation Voter
Generation Voter (Gen V) is an initiative designed to provide inspirational entry points for young, motivated voters to engage in and learn about the election process, voting mechanics, and government advocacy. Generation Voter breaks down the basics for voter registration, the upcoming local election, and more.
Qualifications for Office
A person must be a registered voter of the City of San Mateo and have resided continuously in San Mateo for at least thirty days immediately preceding the appointment or final filing date for nomination papers.
Initiatives, Referendums and Recalls
The City Clerk's Office cannot interpret laws or offer legal advice, and, if applicable, we strongly suggest seeking legal counsel to ensure that your actions are in full compliance with California Elections Code.
Ballot Initiatives and Referendums
California Elections Code outlines the process for circulating petitions for ballot initiatives and referendums. The requirements may differ based upon the type of legislation to determine what applies to the situation, for more information, please consult California Elections Code Sections 9200-9226 and California Elections Code Sections 9235-9247.
Recall Initiatives
The California Secretary of State offers a detailed description of the process for initiating a recall for local officials.
Local Campaign Contributions and Voluntary Expenditure Limits
Individual contributions cannot exceed $500 and organization contributions cannot exceed $1,000. Additionally, a candidate cannot personally make a loan to their campaign in an amount which exceeds $15,000. Municipal Code 2.80.030 LIMITATIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS
Voluntary Expenditure Limits
The City of San Mateo is committed to preserving integrity and openness in the political process as a matter of the highest public interest. To this end, the City has adopted a local campaign finance ordinance which sets mandatory campaign contribution limits and voluntary campaign expenditure limits for City Council candidates, codified at San Mateo Municipal Code (SMMC) Chapter 2.80. SMMC Section 2.80.055(d) requires the calculation of a voluntary campaign expenditure limit and publication of the amount for each Council district on the City website and in a newspaper of general circulation.
For the November 3, 2026 City Council election, the voluntary campaign expenditure ceiling is $2.63 per resident in each electoral district, rounded to the nearest $100. Residency of each electoral district has been determined by the latest decennial census population figures available for each district, as illustrated below:
| Voluntary Campaign Expenditure Limits for November 5, 2024 City Council Elections | |||
|---|---|---|---|
District 1 | District 3 | District 5 | |
District Population Based on 2020 U.S. Census | 21,572 | 21,061 | 21,709 |
Maximum voluntary campaign expenditure limit (District population, x $2.63, rounded to nearest $100) (See Ordinance Ord. No. 2023-9.) | $56,700 | $55,400 | $57,100 |
A candidate who agrees to abide by the voluntary campaign expenditure limit shall receive the following benefits and incentives at no cost to themselves:
- The City's website will clearly identify which candidates have agreed to the voluntary expenditure limit.
- The City will publish in its regular digital newsletter which candidates have agreed to the voluntary expenditure limit. This will be published twice.
- The City will publish notices in a newspaper of general circulation the candidate who agreed to the voluntary expenditure limit.
- The City will publish on its website a written statement up to four hundred words. The statement will appear exactly as submitted and shall conform to candidate statement guidelines provided by the City Clerk and Elections Code section 13307(a)(1), as amended.
Elections - Role of the City Clerk
The City Clerk is responsible for the administration of all municipal elections by:
- Serving as Elections Official and issuing nomination papers to potential candidates;
- Serving as Elections Official for the initiative and referendum process;
- Serving as Filing Officer for Campaign Statements and Statements of Economic Interests as required by the Political Reform Act and administered by the Fair Political Practices Commission.
- Maintaining the City’s election history.