Municipal Elections & Voter Registration
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
The City Clerk is the City Elections Official and is responsible for administering the City’s general municipal elections and special elections for both candidates and measures; and processing petitions relating to initiatives, recalls and referendums.
The City of Pinole General Municipal Election is held during even-numbered years. The City Council is comprised of five members elected at large to four-year terms. The Mayor is rotated amongst the Council on a yearly basis. In addition to Council Members, the City Treasurer is also an elected position.
The next general municipal election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
ELIGIBILITY AND CANDIDACY
To be eligible to run for office of Council member or Treasurer a candidate must be a registered voter and resident of the City of Pinole.
NOMINATION PERIOD
This is the period when individuals officially receive, circulate and file nomination papers for candidacy.
The Nomination Period for the November 5, General Election opens at 8:30 a.m. on July 15, 2024 and closes at 4:30 p.m. on August 9, 2024.
Persons interested in running for the office of City Councilmember for the City of Pinole in the upcoming November 5, 2024 election may obtain nomination documents from the Pinole City Clerk during the normal business hours indicated below. The General Municipal Election will fill three seats on the City Council for four-year terms. The successful candidates will be installed in the month of December 2024.
The Nomination Paper must be signed by at least 20 and no more than 30 persons who are registered to vote in the City of Pinole. Signatures must be collected on the Nomination Paper issued by the City Clerk.
All forms required for nomination and election to the City Council in the City of Pinole are issued by and filed with the Pinole City Clerk. Appointments to obtain, review and submit nomination documents are required to ensure safety, accessibility, and ample time to thoroughly review the filing requirements.
Please note: Candidates must schedule an appointment with the City Clerk to take out and/or file nomination papers.
For additional information please contact the City Clerk, Heather Bell at hbell@pinole.gov or (510) 724-8928.
Candidates can refer to the Candidate Information Guide for more detailed information on the nomination process.
VOTER REGISTRATION
Registration is permanent and a new affidavit of registration need only be executed if you have changed your name, address or wish to change your political party affiliation.
You are eligible to register to vote if you are:
- A United States citizen, and
- A resident of Contra Costa County, and
- 18 years of age or older on Election Day, and
- Not in prison, or on parole, serving state prison sentence in a county jail, or serving sentence for a felony, and
- Not found to be mentally incompetent by a court of law.
The deadline to register or re-register to vote for any elections is on the 15th calendar day before the election. Register ONLINE by visiting the California Secretary of State website. Registration forms are also available at any Department of Vehicles office, most post offices, public libraries and at Pinole City Hall.
CONDITIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION
Conditional Voter Registration is a new safety net for Californians who miss the deadline to register to vote or to update their voter registration information. While you may not be able to vote at your regular polling place or vote by mail, there will be an opportunity to cast a ballot by completing the conditional voter registration process.
Eligible citizens who miss the deadline can go to their county elections office or a designated satellite location to register and vote conditionally. Their ballots will be processed once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process.
Have additional questions about your local conditional voter registration locations? Contact the Contra Costa Elections Office at (925) 335-7800 or visit their webiste by clicking here.
PRE-REGISTER TO VOTE
To pre-register to vote in California, you must:
- Be 16 or 17 years old, and
- A United States citizen and a resident of California, and
- Not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and
- Not prohibited from voting by a court because of mental incompetency.
You will automatically be registered to vote on your 18th birthday. To pre-register click here.