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 and one (1) City Council seat with a two-year term and one Citizen Initiated 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.
What’s on the November 3, 2026 Ballot
| Type | Item | Term / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Office | City Councilmember (2 Seats) | 4-Year Term |
| Office | City Councilmember (1 Seat) | 2-Year Term |
| Measure |
Lemon Grove Bird Initiative Citizen Initiated Ballot Measure |
Ordinance (voter approval required) |
Lemon Grove Bird Initiative — November 3, 2026 Ballot Measure
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 serves as the Elections Official for this measure and is responsible for administering the argument and rebuttal process, public notice and related election filings.
| Subject of the Measure | Proposed ordinance to prohibit the retail sale of birds within the City of Lemon Grove. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.lemongrove.ca.gov/media/b3oghqnk/item-5-rcvd-and-file-cert-of-sufficiency-of-petition-bird-initiative-ca-rev.pdf |
| Measure Documents & Notices | All official documents, resolutions, public notices, and filed arguments for and against related to the Lemon Grove Bird Initiative will be posted on the 2026 Election Candidate Information and Notices page as they become available. |
Candidate Nomination Period
Every election begins with a nomination period, the window of time during which prospective candidates may obtain and return nomination papers. The nomination period opens 113 days before the election and closes 88 days before Election Day. This is the only period during which nomination papers may be issued and filed.
Candidate information packets will be 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 5 p.m.. Each packet includes nomination petitions and all other forms required to run for office. 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.
| Nomination Period Opens | Monday, July 13, 2026 at 7:30 a.m. |
| Nomination Period Closes | Friday, August 7, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. |
| Election Day | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 |
Candidate Eligibility
Requirements verified at the time nomination paperwork is issued.
- United States citizen.
- At least 18 years of age on or before Election Day.
- A registered voter of the City of Lemon Grove and otherwise qualified to vote for the office at the time nomination papers are issued (registration verified with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters).
- Not disqualified under California Elections Code § 20 (certain felony convictions).
Candidate Fees
| Filing Fee | $25, due when nomination papers are filed with the City Clerk (Gov. Code § 10228; Ordinance No. 453). The filing fee is non-refundable. |
| Candidate Statement (Optional) |
Candidates who choose to include a Candidate Statement of Qualifications in the County Voter Information Guide are responsible for their pro-rata share of the actual cost of printing and translation, as administered by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters (ROV). The ROV has estimated this cost at approximately $1,450 for the 2026 election cycle. Why does a candidate statement cost this much? This cost is set entirely by the County Registrar of Voters — not the City of Lemon Grove. Three factors drive the price: 1. Physical printing and mailing to every registered voter. The official Voter Information Guide is physically printed and mailed to every registered voter in the jurisdiction. Every candidate statement adds to printing, paper, handling, and postage costs. Each candidate pays their proportionate share of those production expenses. 2. Mandatory multi-language translation. By law, election officials must translate the Voter Information Guide — including all candidate statements — into multiple languages to serve San Diego County’s diverse population. Federally mandated languages under the Voting Rights Act include Spanish, Filipino (Tagalog), and others as required. Translating a candidate statement and resetting the page layout in each required language significantly increases production costs. Each candidate pays a pro-rata share of those translation and typesetting services. 3. Per-candidate cost-sharing. Production costs are allocated proportionally among all candidates who choose to include a statement. The $1,450 estimate reflects Lemon Grove’s share of those combined costs for the 2026 cycle based on the ROV’s current projections. Important — this is an estimate, not a final charge. Candidates who file a statement pay the estimated cost at the time of filing. The actual cost is not determined until after the election, once all printing, translation, and distribution expenses are finalized. If actual costs are less than the deposit paid, the candidate will receive a refund of the difference. If actual costs exceed the estimate, the candidate may be required to pay the difference. See Elections Code § 13307. |
Forms Required When Filing Nomination Papers
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.
- Nomination Paper — with signatures of at least 20 registered Lemon Grove voters (verified by the County Registrar of Voters).
- Ballot Designation Worksheet.
- Form 700 — Statement of Economic Interests.
- Candidate Statement of Qualifications (optional) — for inclusion in the County Voter Information Guide.
- All statements and information submitted are public records and may be disclosed upon request.
Campaign Contribution Regulations
| Contribution Limit | Per Resolution No. 2025-4094, the current individual contribution limit is $1,230.00 per calendar year for years 2025–2026, unless updated by resolution. |
| Local Campaign Regulations | Chapter 9.08 — Election Campaign Regulations establishes local rules governing campaign contributions, disclosures, and related requirements for City elections. View the full Lemon Grove Municipal Code. |
| Campaign Finance Resources |
Compensation and Benefits — Mayor & City Council
Effective for newly seated Council members (December 2026 and forward).
| Role | Monthly Salary | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | $1,662.50 | $50,000 life insurance; medical, vision, dental |
| Councilmember | $950.00 | $50,000 life insurance; medical, vision, dental |
Candidate Resources and Helpful Links
- FPPC Candidate Toolkit
- FPPC Campaign Disclosure Manuals (Manual 2 — Local Candidates)
- FPPC Campaign Rules
- Fillable / Blank FPPC Campaign Forms
- SD County Registrar of Voters — Candidates & Campaigns
Campaign Sign Complaints
Every campaign season, complaints are received about the placement of campaign signs. Please contact the Code Enforcement Officer and the City Clerk’s Office.
| Code Enforcement Officer | Paolo Romero Email: promero@lemongrove.ca.gov Phone: (619) 825-3820 |
| City Clerk / Elections Official | Joel G. Pablo Email: jpablo@lemongrove.ca.gov Phone: (619) 825-3841 |
Voting Resources
Voter Registration Information
For voter registration questions, contact the San Diego County Registrar of Voters at (800) 696-0136 or visit sdvote.com.
Have Questions? Contact Us.
| City Clerk / Elections Official | Joel G. Pablo Email: jpablo@lemongrove.ca.gov Phone: (619) 825-3841 3232 Main Street, Lemon Grove, CA 91945 |
| FPPC (Campaign Finance Questions) | Email: advice@fppc.ca.gov Phone: 1-866-275-3772 |
| SD County Registrar of Voters | sdvote.com · (800) 696-0136 |
Joel G. Pablo
City Clerk / Elections Official
Lemon Grove City Hall
3232 Main Street
Lemon Grove, CA 91945
(619) 825-3841
jpablo@lemongrove.ca.gov