Elections

The City has a City Council/City Manager form of local government. General Municipal elections are held on the first Tuesday of November in even-numbered years. The Mayor is elected at-large by the entire City for a four year term. Council members are elected by district, by the residents within their respective district, for four-year overlapping terms. A Council member of each district must live in that district and must be a registered voter in that district to be eligible to hold the office of Council member for that district, and a candidate for any district must live in that district and must be a registered voter in that district to be eligible to run for the office of Council member for that district. Only voters who live in a district shall be eligible to vote in the election for Council member of that district.  The Mayor is elected by the voters of the City at-large, and must reside within the City boundaries.

Local Election Official 

The City Clerk serves as the local elections official and coordinates with the County of Stanislaus in conducting Municipal Elections. Duties of the Elections Official include preparation of necessary resolutions calling for General and Special Municipal Elections and declaring elections results; coordination of the candidate nomination process and receipt and processing of initiative, referendum and recall petitions.

Upcoming Elections

The next General Municipal Election will be held on November 3, 2020, voters in District 3 and District 4 will each elect a City Councilmember, and all voters will decide the Mayor’s position.  

Nomination Period

The nomination period for the November 3, 2020 election begins on Monday, July 13, 2020 and  closes on Friday, August 7, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.  During this period, individuals may take out, circulate and file nomination papers. If an incumbent for one of the offices being voted upon does not file nomination papers by 5:00 p.m. on August 7, 2020, the filing period will be extended until August 12, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. During this extension period, any eligible person, other than the incumbent, may take out, circulate, and file nomination papers for that office. You must be a registered voter in the City of Ceres at the time nomination papers are issued. Council candidates must also reside in the district they are seeking to represent.  

COVID-19 Measures:  City office buildings remain closed to the public until further notice. To begin the nomination process, contact the City Elections Official at cityclerk@ci.ceres.ca.us to receive instructions on how to proceed. Regardless of the procedures, all original (hardcopy) required candidate documents must be received by the City Elections Official no later than the close of the nomination period on Friday, August 7th by 5:00 pm; absolutely no exception will be made once the period has closed.  PLEASE REVIEW Candidate Protocols for COVID-19.

Election Sign Up Chart