Title
a. Authorize the Registrar of Voters to consolidate and provide specified election services to certain districts relating to the November 3, 2026 General Election, and;
b. Appoint candidates to governing boards of various districts where the number of persons who filed a declaration of candidacy do not exceed the number of offices to be filled at the November 3, 2026 General Election, and;
c. Solicit candidates for appointment of qualified persons to governing board member positions where no person or an insufficient number have filed a declaration of candidacy, as set forth in the attached Exhibits.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the Registrar of Voters to consolidate and provide specified election services to certain districts relating to the November 3, 2026 General Election, and;
b. Appoint candidates to governing boards of various districts where the number of persons who filed a declaration of candidacy do not exceed the number of offices to be filled at the November 3, 2026 General Election, and;
c. Solicit candidates for appointment of qualified persons to governing board member positions where no person or an insufficient number have filed a declaration of candidacy, as set forth in the attached Exhibits.
SUMMARY:
California Elections Code Sections 10002 and 10400 et seq., provide that a city or district may by resolution request the Board of Supervisors to authorize the Registrar of Voters to consolidate and provide election services relating to the conduct of an election.
DISCUSSION:
Resolutions were filed by the following cities and districts requesting that the Registrar of Voters perform consolidated services for the November 3, 2026 General Election:
• Monterey County Board of Education
• Fresno County Board of Education
• Hartnell Community College District
• Monterey Peninsula Community College District
• West Hills Community College District
• Aromas-San Juan Unified School District
• Big Sur Unified School District
• Carmel Unified School District
• Coalinga-Huron Unified School District
• Gonzales Unified School District
• Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
• North Monterey County Unified School District
• Pacific Grove Unified School District
• Shandon Joint Unified School District
• Soledad Unified School District
• Salinas Union High School District
• South Monterey County Joint Union High School District
• Alisal Union School District
• Bradley Union School District
• Chualar Union School District
• Graves Elementary School District
• Lagunita Elementary School District
• Mission Union School District
• Paso Robles Joint Unified School District
• Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District
• Salinas City Elementary School District
• San Antonio Union Elementary School District
• San Ardo Union Elementary School District
• San Lucas Union Elementary School District
• Santa Rita Union School District
• Spreckels Union School District
• Washington Union Elementary School District
• City of Carmel-by-the-Sea
• City of Del Rey Oaks
• City of Gonzales
• City of Greenfield
• City of King
• City of Marina
• City of Monterey
• City of Pacific Grove
• City of Salinas
• City of Sand City
• City of Seaside
• City of Soledad (Appointments in Lieu, if any, will be determined by the City)
• Monterey Peninsula Airport District
• Castroville Community Services District
• Pebble Beach Community Services District
• Santa Lucia Community Services District
• Spreckels Community Services District
• Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection District
• Cachagua Fire Protection District
• Cypress Fire Protection District
• Gonzales Rural Fire Protection District
• Greenfield Fire Protection District
• North County Fire Protection District
• Moss Landing Harbor District
• Pajaro Valley Health Care District
• Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System
• Soledad Community Health Care District
• Greenfield Memorial District
• Spreckels Memorial District
• Carmel Valley Recreation & Park District
• North County Public Recreation District
• Soledad-Mission Recreation District
• Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District
• Aromas Water District
• Carmel Area Wastewater District
• Marina Coast Water District
• Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
The services requested consist generally of establishing voting precincts and polling places, preparing and distributing ballots, voter guides, and voting materials, canvassing the voted returns, certifying election results and issuing certificates of election, and all other proceedings incidental to and connected with the election.
Part 4 of Division 10 of the California Elections Code is known as the Uniform District Election Law and specifies the process for the nomination and appointment and or election of members to various special districts.
Elections Code Section 10500(b)(13) defines the supervising authority for each local special district as the board of supervisors of the county in which all or most of the land of a district is situated. This Board of Supervisors is the supervising authority for various special districts situated within Monterey County.
Section 10515 requires that the Registrar of Voters notify the supervising authority if an insufficient number of candidates has been nominated for a position on the governing board of a special district, and a petition requesting that said election be held has not been presented to the Registrar of Voters.
Section 10515 further requires that, at a regular or special meeting held prior to the Monday before the first Friday in December, the supervising authority appoint the qualified nominees who have filed declarations of candidacy.
The persons identified in the attached Exhibit A- ‘Appointments in Lieu of Election’ are qualified nominees for candidacy of their respective office and against whom no other nominations were made. The Registrar of Voters recommends the indicated persons be appointed to the governing boards of their respective districts by the Board of Supervisors.
Separately, pursuant to applicable law, if no person has filed a declaration of candidacy for any office, or where there are less nominees for the open positions, the supervising authority shall appoint any person to the office who is qualified, or duly registered to vote in the district, as of the date of the scheduled election, which in this case is November 3, 2026. The Board of Supervisors, or other supervising authority where applicable, should solicit potential appointees for the offices identified in the attached Exhibit B- ‘Open District Seats’ so that such appointments may be made by the applicable statutory deadline.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT/COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
The districts listed have requested that the Registrar of Voters consolidate their election with the November 3, 2026 General Election.
FINANCING:
California Elections Code Section 10002 mandates that all jurisdictions requesting election services from the County shall reimburse the County for the services performed. The expenditures for the November 3, 2026 General Election have been incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget. No additional cost to the County General Fund is associated with this recommendation.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
This recommended action promotes an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management in the delivery of services that is in line with the Board’s strategic plan goals.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Plan Goals:
____ Well-Being and Quality of Life
____ Sustainable Infrastructure for the Present and Future
____ Safe and Resilient Communities
____ Diverse and Thriving Economy
____ Dynamic Organization and Employer of Choice
_x__ Administrative
Prepared by: Brandon Shioya, Elections Program Manager, x1486
Approved by: Gina Martinez, Registrar of Voters, x1499
Attachments:
Exhibit A - Appointed In-Lieu of Election 11-03-2026
Exhibit B - Open District Seats 11-03-2026