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City Council Elections
About the City Council
- Council Members are elected at-large and serve a 4-year term.
- The Mayor and Vice Mayor are appointed every year in December by the City Council and serve for one year.
- Regular City Council Meetings are held on the first, and third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
November 8, 2022 General Municipal Election
The next General Municipal Election will be held on November 8, 2022. The election will be held for three Members of the City Council, each for a term of four-years.
Eligibility
To run for City Council, a candidate must be 18 years and older, a resident of Saratoga and registered to vote in the City of Saratoga.
Nomination Period
Every election begins with a “nomination period.” 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.
The nomination period for the November 8, 2022 General Municipal Election begins July 18, 2022 and ends at 5:00 p.m. on August 12, 2022. Nomination packets are issued and filed by appointment only during the posted hours of the City Clerk. Appointments are not available July 27-28, 2022 and August 3-5, 2022. Completed packets must be returned to the City Clerk before 5:00 p.m. on August 12, 2022 to run as a candidate for City Council.
Please contact the City Clerk to schedule your appointment to be issued a nomination packet. Appointments typically last approximately one hour.
Nomination Papers
Official nomination papers will be included in the nomination packet. To qualify as a candidate, potential candidates must obtain the signature of at least 20, but no more than 30, registered voters in Saratoga. 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 Santa Clara 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
Qualified candidates must complete and submit a Form 501 - Candidate Intention Statement, before soliciting and receiving any contributions for their candidacy. This form is filed with the City Clerk.
The Form 410 – Statement of Organization must be submitted to the Secretary of State, along with a $50 fee, once a candidate receives contributions (including loans) that total $2,000 or more in a calendar year. A copy must be filed with the City Clerk. The Form 410 may be submitted before reaching the $2,000 threshold for qualifying as a committee. After the Secretary of State receives the Form 410 and payment for the Campaign Committee Fee, the committee’s identification number will be posted online.
During the campaign, contributions and expenditures must also be reported. The Form 470 is filed by officeholders and candidates who do not receive contributions or expend funds totaling $2,000 or more during the calendar year. The Form 460 is filed electronically by committees to report expenditures and contributions in excess of $2,000.
Candidates must also disclose their economic interests to qualify as a candidate. A Form 700 - Statement of Economic Interest is due when the nomination papers are submitted and is filed electronically.
Campaign Signs
Please consult the City of Saratoga City Code Section 15.30.060(e) to ensure campaign signs comply with City signage requirements. Candidates are encouraged to submit a Declaration of Intent to Install Temporary Non-Commercial Signs prior to installing campaign signage. You may also contact the Code Compliance Officer for more information.