Election Information

Municipal Election Date

The next regularly scheduled Municipal Election is November 3, 2026, for the offices of Council District 2, Council District 4, and Council District 5. 

The City Clerk also serves as the Elections Official for the Modesto City School Board of Education.  Board of Education offices scheduled for the November 3, 2026 Municipal Election are District 1, District 3,  District 5,  and District 7.   

Residents interested in serving on the Modesto City Council and Board of Education are encouraged to contact the City Clerk's office for more information. The nomination process can be complicated and filing deadlines are rigid. 

Election Nomination Period

Candidates must obtain a Nomination Packet by scheduling an appointment with the City Clerk’s Office only during the Nomination Period: July 13 - August 7, 2026 (113th day and 88th day prior to a municipal election).  The nomination period closes at 5 pm on August 7th. 

Please email the City Clerk or call 209-577-5398 for an appointment. Nomination packets are only issued during the official nomination period.

Qualifications for Modesto City Council

  • Candidate must have been a registered voter in the City for thirty (30) days prior to filing nomination papers. (Modesto Charter Section 701). 
  • Candidate for, and councilmember of, each district must live in that district to be eligible to run for or hold the office of councilmember for that district. (Modesto Charter Section 501).

General Information

Modesto has a Council-Manager form of government. Voters elect the City Council to serve as the policy-making board of the City. The Council, in turn, appoints a City Manager to administer these policies.

The Modesto City Council has seven members, including the Mayor, elected at-large on a nonpartisan basis for four-year terms. Their terms of office expire in alternate odd numbered years. The City Council serves as a legislative body, enacting ordinances, orders and resolutions necessary for governing Modesto as outlined in the City Charter and deemed important by the public.

In addition to their representation of the citizens of Modesto and their vote at City Council meetings, Council members are appointed to various sub-committees and given other assignments by the Mayor during their terms in office.

The Modesto City Council holds regular meetings at 5:30 p.m. on the first, second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The Council generally does not meet on the fifth Tuesday of a month. Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or a majority of the Council members.

The Mayor is paid $4,500 per month, and the six (6) other Council members are paid $2,500 per month. Council members are also reimbursed for expenses. 

Measure M, passed by Modesto voters on February 5, 2008, revised several sections of the City’s Charter regarding the duties of the Mayor as well as the election of the Mayor and the Council members. Changes included moving from election-at-large to district election of the six Council members with the Mayor position continuing with the election-at-large process. Revised Charter Sections were: 601, 703, 800, 801, 900, 903, 1201, 1303 and 1304; added Charter Sections included 725, 902.1, 1302.1 and 1302.2; Charter Section 1302 was revoked. See Municipal Code online for full text of the Modesto Charter.