November 5, 2024 Election

The municipal election was held on November 5, 2024 for Mayor (2 years), two full term (4 years) City Council seats, one short term City Council seat (unexpired term approximately two years) and a ballot measure to request that the voters increase the Transient Occupancy (Hotel) Tax from 10% to 14%.  The tax would be paid only by hotel/lodging guests.

Link to Election Results on the Alameda County Registrar of Voters (ROV) website.  The ROV will update the results on Thursday, November 7th and Friday, November 8th.

Candidate Contact List

Transient Occupancy (Hotel) Tax Ballot Measure "LL" Information

Resolution placing Hotel Tax on on November 5, 2024 Ballot

City Attorney Impartial Analysis

Argument in Favor of Hotel Tax

Ballot Question - To maintain local services/ facilities, such as: repairing potholes/ city streets; replacing seismically unsafe fire stations; maintaining neighborhood police patrols, 9-1-1 and emergency medical response/ fire protection; and for general government use; shall the City of Newark measure be adopted increasing the existing voter approved transient occupancy (hotel) tax from 10% to 14%, paid only by hotel/ lodging guests, until ended by voters, providing $2,100,000 more annually, that cannot be taken by Sacramento, including independent citizen oversight?” Yes/No?

Eligibility for Candidacy

Any resident of the city who is 18 years of age or older and a registered voter living in Newark is eligible to run for Mayor or for the City Council.

Nomination Period

The nomination period runs from mid July to mid August. This is when you may obtain a nomination packet, which includes the forms needed to run for office.   Nomination packets are only issued during the official nomination period.

Appointment Requirements - Appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance.  Please contact City Clerk Sheila Harrington via email at Sheila.harrington@newark.org  or at 510-578-4266 for an appointment. Please include your name, office sought, and address in the appointment request.

Nomination Paper

The official nomination paper will be included in the nomination packet. To qualify as a candidate, you must obtain the signatures of at least 20, but not more than 30, registered voters in Newark.

Ballot Designation

The ballot designation is the word, or group of not more than three words, which will appear on the ballot under your name. It designates your principal profession, vocation or occupation, subject to certain requirements of the Elections Code.

Candidate Statement (Optional)

Candidate statements are limited to 200 words by the Elections Code. The statement is published in the Sample Ballot and mailed to all registered voters. If you choose to have a candidate statement, you will be responsible for the cost of printing, translating and publishing the statement in the Sample Ballot. A deposit of $400 will be required when you return your nomination paperwork.

Election results for city elections (as well as for primary and general elections held in the State of California) are available on the Alameda County Registrar of Voters website after the close of the polls on election night. 

Campaign Finance

Use the Public Access Portal to research campaign contributions and expenditures, review campaign statements filed by candidates and examine a committee's filing beginning in 2022. This section contains financial information provided by local candidates and committees. Review these filings for questions about who is contributing money, who is receiving money, and how it is being spent. 

Campaign Electronic Filing System 

How to Vote

Every registered voter will receive a Vote by Mail ballot in the mail.  The Alameda County Registrar of Voters generally begins mailing the Vote by Mail packets 29 days before the election. Sign up at acvote.ballottrax.net to receive automatic email or text notifications about your ballot. 

Vote by Mail - Vote by Mail ballots may be deposited into any USPS mail box or directly at the post office located at 6655 Clark Avenue.

Ballot Drop Box - 24 hour drop boxes are available throughout Alameda County.  If you are a registered voter in Alameda County, you may drop your ballot off at any location. 

The City's Vote By Mail Ballot Box is now located in the Civic Center Plaza area between the Police Department and the David W. Smith, City Hall, 37101 Newark Boulevard. (The box was moved from the previous location by the old library.)

Attached is a map of the official boxes throughout Alameda County, Map of ballot drop boxes Ballots from these boxes are collected by Alameda County Registrar of Voters on a daily basis.

In person voting - Vote Center Locations will be available throughout Alameda County.  Please check acvote.org/go for the nearest location. 

In order to vote, you must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Newark, and 18 years of age or older as of the day of the election.  You may register to vote online through the Secretary of State webpage.

For more information about voting by mail, contact the Registrar of Voters Office at (510) 272-6973.

Resources

FPPC candidate toolkit - This toolkit helps you understand the rules that ensure transparency and accountability in California elections.  

http://www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/campaign-rules/candidate-toolkit-getting-started.html

Alameda County Registrar of Voters https://www.acvote.org/index

Secretary of State - Elections Division https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/

Persons interested in running for the Newark Unified School District Board of Education or on special district boards that represent Newark residents should contact the Alameda County Registrar of Voters at (510) 272-6933 for information.