Election Requirements

• Candidate must have been a registered voter in the City of Modesto for 30 days prior to filing nomination paper (Charter Sec. 701)
• Must live in the City of Modesto

Elections are in November of odd numbered years.  Candidate packets are ready shortly after July 1, approximately four months before the November election.  (call 577-5397 in June for the exact date)

Candidate packets will include the following information and forms to file:

• Nomination paper (need at least 20 signatures of persons nominating you to run for office)
• Candidates statement for Voter Pamphlet (Optional). A deposit is required at time of filing.
• Statement of Economic Interest Form
• Campaign Reports on monies collected and spent will be filed at regular intervals during the campaign

Regular municipal elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year.

If no candidate for one of the elective offices receives a majority of the votes cast, a second regular municipal election shall be held on the second Tuesday in December. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes at the first regular municipal election shall have their names placed on the run-off ballot.
 

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 5th Tuesday of a month. Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or a majority of the Council members.

The Mayor is paid $3,600 per month, and the six other Council members are paid $2,000 per month, and all receive $30 for each Redevelopment Agency meeting attended (amount decided by State Government Code based on population). 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.

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