Elections

The City Clerk conducts all regular and special elections and is the City’s Election Official. As the Elections Official, the City Clerk is the point of contact for all things elections-related, including but not limited to: candidates, citizen initiative petitions, measures, and campaign financial filings. The City consolidates elections with the County of Monterey.

Elections for City Council positions are held in November of even-numbered years. Council Members and the Mayor are elected at-large and serve staggering terms. The Mayor’s term is 2 years, and Councilmember terms are 4 years. 

General Information

Eligibility

To be eligible to run for City Council, a candidate must be 18 years and older, a resident of Carmel-by-the-Sea, and registered to vote in Carmel-by-the-Sea at the time Nomination Papers are issued for candidacy. 

Nomination Period

Every election begins with a “nomination period.” This is the period of time that begins 113 days before the day of the election and ends 88 days before election day. This is the only period of time during which you can obtain and return “nomination papers”, which are the forms you need to submit in order to run for office.

Nomination Papers

Official nomination papers will be included in the nomination packet. Nomination packets, consisting of information related to running for office and the required forms, are issued to potential candidates by the City Clerk during the nomination period.  To qualify as a candidate, potential candidates must obtain the signatures of at least 20, but no more than 30, registered voters in Carmel-by-the-Sea. There is a $25 filing fee that is due when the nomination packet is returned to the City Clerk. 

Candidates have the option to include a Candidate Statement of Qualifications in the voter information materials produced by the Monterey County Registrar of Voters. The cost for the Candidate Statement of Qualifications will be provided with the nomination packet and is the responsibility of the candidate.  

Campaign Disclosure Forms

The Political Reform Act requires candidates and committees to file campaign statements by specified deadlines disclosing contributions received and expenditures made. These documents are public and may be audited by the FPPC and FTB to ensure that voters are fully informed and improper practices prohibited. It is the responsibility of candidates and committees to understand the rules regulating their campaigns in California.