Election Information

To hold an elective office in the City of Albany, a person must be:

• A United States citizen
• An elector of the City
• A resident of the City for thirty-days (30) preceding nomination

Getting Started:

1. Review the Basic Steps In Running for Office(PDF, 216KB)
2. Additional reference information is provided in the City's Guide to Nomination and Candidacy(PDF, 126KB)
3. Note important dates on the 2026 Election Calendar(PDF, 94KB)
4. During the Nomination Period, which is 113 – 88 days before the election, obtain required forms by appointment only from the City Clerk's Office. You must obtain the signatures of at least 20 but not more than 30 registered voters in the City of Albany.
5. There are a number of additional forms required as part of candidacy. Please check with the City Clerk during the nomination period to obtain a nomination packet with all required submittals.

It is also recommended that prospective candidates get involved in City government by:

• AttendingCity Council Meetings on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. Albany City Council meetings are conducted in person at City Hall Council Chambers, 1000 San Pablo Avenue, Albany. As a courtesy, and technology permitting, members of the public may continue to participate virtually. However, the City cannot guarantee that the public’s access to teleconferencing technology will be uninterrupted, and technical difficulties my occur from time to time. Unless required by the Brown Act, City Council meetings will continue despite technical difficulties for participants using the teleconferencing option. Check meeting agendas for instruction on how to join Zoom webinars for City Council meetings or other Advisory Body meetings. Upcoming and archived public meeting agendas and videos are available on the Meetings & Agendas web page.
• Watching live meetings broadcast or archived City meeting videos on Meetings & Agendas or YouTube playlist (www.youtube.com/albanykalb)
• Reading the City Council Agenda and Staff Reports, available at the City's website
• Getting appointed to a City Advisory Body

Albany voters will elect members of the City Council and the Albany Unified School District Board of Education during the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election. Find information about candidates seeking office, including nomination filings and the order of names on the ballot, on the 2026 Candidates for General Municipal Election page.

Albany voters will decide on local ballot measures during the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election. Find information about each measure's ballot language, impartial analysis, and arguments for and against on the 2026 Ballot Measures page.

The City of Albany will hold its General Municipal Election on November 3, 2026. Find information about voter registration, vote-by-mail options, and how to track your ballot.

The following provides a history of City Measures & Charter Amendments since 1990: The following provides a history of City Measures & Charter Amendments since 1990: City Measures & Charter Amendments(PDF, 92KB).