Elections
The City Clerk serves as the Elections Official for the city of Los Altos and is responsible for the conduction of all city of Los Altos elections. Elections for City Council are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November in even years. Special elections may be held at any time in conjunction with another agency in Santa Clara County's election.
General Municipal Election Information (November 5, 2024)
The city of Los Altos is a general law city with a five-member legislative body. Each of the five City Councilmembers are directly elected by the registered voters in Los Altos. The positions of Mayor and Vice Mayor are ceremonial in nature and are not directly elected by the voters in Los Altos. The City Council selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor amongst themselves, and the positions typically serve one calendar year, beginning in early December.
The next general municipal election for the city of Los Altos will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for three City Council seats. The nomination period for the 2024 election begins on Monday, July 15, 2024, and ends on Friday, August 9, 2024. If an incumbent does not file the required election paperwork by the Friday, August 9, 2024, deadline , the filing period shall be extended five additional days. It will close on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, for all other interested and eligible persons other than the incumbent for that seat.
Nomination papers are available by appointment only at City Hall. The deadline to file all required nomination documents is Friday, August 9, 2024, at 5 PM. For more information or to make an appointment to obtain nomination papers, please contact City Clerk Melissa Thurman at mthurman@losaltosca.gov.
Key Election Dates
- Nomination Period: Monday, July 15, 2024-Friday August 9, 2024 (by 5 PM)
- Write-In Candidacy Period: Monday, September 9, 2024-Tuesday, October 22, 2024 (by 5 PM)
- Vote by Mail Ballots Mailed to Registered Voters: Monday, October 7, 2024
- Last Day to Register to Vote for 2024 Election: Monday, October 21, 2024
- Last Day to Request a Vote by Mail Ballot: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 (Request ballots at: Santa Clara Registrar of Voters)
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters (LWV) will host a City Council Candidate Forum on Tuesday October 1, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the Los Altos City Council Chambers. More information about this forum may be found at the League of Women Voters website.
Your Voice Counts
To register to vote in Santa Clara County, please visit the Santa Clara Registrar of Voters or call (408) 299-VOTE. If you prefer to vote in person, Vote Centers in Santa Clara County can be found by visiting the Santa Clara Registrar of Voters.
