2026 Municipal Election Information

The City of Lemon Grove's next General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 for two (2) City Councilmember seats with four-year terms, one (1) City Council seat with a two-year term, and one ballot measure — the Lemon Grove Bird Initiative.

The City Clerk is the City's Elections Official and oversees municipal elections, candidate filing, ballot measures, and compliance with election laws. Lemon Grove is a General Law City with a five-member, at-large City Council. The City consolidates its elections with the County of San Diego.

This page is the central repository for official election notices, candidate nomination documents, ballot measure materials, and required public postings for the 2026 election, and is updated throughout the election season. Members of the public are encouraged to subscribe to City Council agenda notifications to stay informed.

Candidate contact information, candidate statements of qualifications, and ballot order are published on the cards above as materials are submitted and certified throughout the nomination period.

Ballot Order: Pursuant to Elections Code § 13112, the order in which candidate names appear on the ballot is determined by the California Secretary of State's randomized alphabet drawing.

Candidate Statements: Pursuant to Elections Code § 13307, eligible candidates may submit a written statement of qualifications for inclusion in the voter information guide, subject to word limits and any filing fee adopted by City Council resolution. Statements are confidential during the nomination period. After the close of the nomination period, candidate statements will be posted on this webpage for the public review period, pursuant to Elections Code § 13313.

During the public view period, any voter of the City of Lemon Grove may seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring any or all of the material in the candidate statements to be amended or deleted. The writ of mandate or injunction request shall be filed no later than August 22, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Every election begins with a nomination period — the window of time during which prospective candidates may obtain and return nomination papers. Candidate information packets are available from the City Clerk's Office beginning Monday, July 13, 2026 at 7:30 a.m. and continuing through Friday, August 7, 2026, ending at 6 p.m. Each packet includes nomination petitions and all other forms required to run for office.

Extended filing period: Because an eligible incumbent did not file nomination documents by the August 7 deadline, the filing period for that seat was extended through Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. for eligible candidates other than the incumbent (Elections Code § 10225).

To help ensure timely service, appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, please call (619) 825-3841 or email jpablo@lemongrove.ca.gov.

City Hall offices are closed on Fridays. Prospective candidates who wish to pick up or submit nomination paperwork on a Friday must schedule an appointment with the City Clerk's Office at least two weeks in advance. Friday appointments are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. To schedule, please contact the City Clerk at jpablo@lemongrove.ca.gov or (619) 825-3841 well ahead of your intended date.

During the nomination period, the City Clerk issues nomination packets to individuals interested in running for office. Each packet contains information about the nomination process, filing requirements, and the forms required to become a candidate.

To qualify as a candidate, a prospective candidate must submit nomination papers with the signatures of at least 20, but no more than 30, registered voters of the City of Lemon Grove. A $25 filing fee is due when the completed nomination packet is filed with the City Clerk.

The City Council ordered the Lemon Grove Bird Initiative placed on the November 3, 2026 Statewide General Election ballot at its May 19, 2026 regular meeting. The measure is a Citizen Initiated ordinance that, if approved by voters, would prohibit the retail sale of birds within the City of Lemon Grove.

The City Clerk's Office, as the Elections Official, is responsible for administering the argument and rebuttal process, posting required public notices, and managing all related election filings for this measure. All materials posted on this page are official public records.

Background on the petition and certification of sufficiency: Certificate of Sufficiency of Petition — Bird Initiative (PDF)

Pursuant to California Elections Code §§ 9282–9287, eligible persons may submit written arguments for or against a city measure for inclusion in the official Voter Information Guide. The City Clerk's Office administers this process in accordance with procedures adopted by the City Council.

Argument submission requirements, eligibility, and word limits will be posted here once the argument procedures resolution is adopted. All submitted arguments are public records and may be disclosed upon request.

Public Examination Period: The impartial analysis and all arguments and rebuttal arguments will be available for public examination for 10 calendar days immediately following the applicable filing deadline.

Election results are reported and posted by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, which conducts the official canvass of returns for this election. Results are updated regularly in the days following Election Day as mail, provisional, and remaining ballots are processed and counted.

Where to check results: San Diego County Registrar of Voters — Election Night & Ongoing Results

Certification: Once the official canvass is complete, the City Council will certify the election results and adopt a resolution declaring the results at a regular or special meeting, consistent with the timelines set out in the California Elections Code. The certification resolution and final results will be posted on this page once adopted.

Subscribe to City Council agenda notifications to be alerted when election items are placed on an upcoming meeting agenda.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City of Lemon Grove will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in the candidate nomination process, submit ballot measure arguments, attend a related public meeting, or access any document referenced on this page. Requests for accommodation — including alternative formats, sign language interpretation, or accessible meeting participation — should be directed to the City Clerk's Office at (619) 825-3841 or jpablo@lemongrove.ca.gov, at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting or deadline whenever possible.