The City of Newark is a General Law City operating under a Council–City Manager form of government. The City Council is composed of five members—four Council Members and one Mayor—all elected at large on a nonpartisan basis.

Municipal elections are held in November of even-numbered years. At each election, voters elect two Council Members to four-year terms and a Mayor to a two-year term.

November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election

The next General Municipal Election will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The ballot will include one Mayor seat with a two-year term and two Council Members seats with four-year terms. Election-related information, materials, and resources will be posted as they become available during the election season.

The City Council meets regularly on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Council compensation is established pursuant to Newark Municipal Code Chapter 2.09.

Nomination Period (Elections Code § 10220)

Nomination packets are only issued during the official nomination period. Candidates must contact the City Clerk’s Office to schedule appointments to receive nomination papers, and to submit completed forms and other required documents. 

Nomination Period Opens - Monday, July 13, 2026
Nomination Period Closes - Friday, August 7, 2026

If you are contemplating running for the Newark City Council, please consider filing a Form 501 Candidate Intention Statement (PDF) with the City Clerk's Office.

Eligibility for Candidacy

To qualify, a candidate for City Council must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen, and a resident and registered voter of the City of Newark at the time of issuing nomination documents.

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.