Nomination Period Opens For November 5, 2024, Presidential General Election

The Nominations Process

The nomination period opens today for offices participating in the November 5, 2024, Presidential General Election. The nomination period closes at 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 9, and can be extended to Wednesday, August 14, for contests in which an eligible incumbent officeholder does not file.

In a statement, Matt Moreles, Acting Registrar of Voters said, “The nominations process is the first major step in preparing for an election and one of the most foundational stages of the democratic process. Our team takes pride in making the process to get on the ballot inclusive and accessible, promoting greater ballot access for a diverse range of candidates.”

Starting July 15, the County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters’ (ROV) office is providing candidates with both in-person and online support options for issuing and filing nomination documents during the nomination period.

• Options for Issuing Documents: Requires appointment in-person; appointment online via video conference and secured OneDrive folder; by USPS mail; or walk-in.

• If Choosing Issuance of Electronic Nomination Documents: Submit a “Request to Receive Nomination Documents” form and set a video conferencing appointment or in-person appointment with an Election Specialist and discuss your options.
• Options for Filing Documents: Requires appointment in-person or walk-in; USPS mail; overnight delivery, or other delivery service; Authorization Form to Obtain/File Nomination Documents must be submitted before anyone other than the candidate can be issued or file papers. The form can be found in the “Initial Nomination Period Forms Packet”, available online at https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/november-5-2024-presidential-general-election-resources.

PLEASE NOTE: Original, wet signed nomination documents must be submitted by the candidate, or person authorized in writing by the candidate. Documents may be mailed, delivered by overnight courier, or filed in-person at the Registrar of Voters’ office with the exception of the Declaration of Candidacy, that form must be signed in-person at the ROV or witnessed by a notary public and mailed to the ROV:

• If Choosing to File In-person: Walk-ins are welcomed, however, wait times may occur/vary – the ROV is strongly encouraging candidates to start early.

Eligibility to run for office must be completed before issuance of nomination documents.

“We encourage candidates to make an appointment and begin the nomination filing process as early as possible,” added Moreles. “Our Candidate Services team can assist to ensure paperwork is completed accurately and on time.”

If applicable, candidates shall pay any candidate statement deposits at the time nomination documents are filed.

How to Run for Office

Candidates are encouraged to review the “How to Run for Office” webpage which provides helpful step-by-step instructions for running for office, certain forms that can be filled out in advance of filing nomination documents to qualify for office, and other election related resources. Candidate can locate the How to Run for Office webpage online at https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/how-run-office.

Candidates are required to file originally signed nomination documents, including a Declaration of Candidacy and nomination signatures, together in one packet with the County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters’ office, Candidate Services Division no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, August 9, (or by Wednesday, August 14, if an eligible incumbent does not file) to qualify as a candidate.

Local Offices in Nominations Period

The following local offices are currently in the nominations period for the November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election:

Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Areas 1, 3, 4 & 5 (One seat each) 
San Benito County Board of Education Trustee Area 1 (One seat)

Community College Districts 
– Foothill-De Anza Trustee Areas 1, 3 & 5 (One seat each)
– Gavilan Joint Trustee Areas 2, 4 & 6 (One seat each)
– San Jose-Evergreen Trustee Areas 1, 3, 5 & 7 (One seat each)
– West Valley-Mission Trustee Areas 1, 2, 4 & 6, Trustee Area 5 short-term (One seat each)

Unified School Districts 
– Gilroy Trustee Areas 2, 5 & 6 (One seat each)
– Milpitas (Two seats)
– Morgan Hill Trustee Areas 5, 6 & 7 (One seat each)
– Palo Alto (Three seats)
– San Jose Trustee Areas 1, 3 & 5 (One seat each)
– Santa Clara Trustee Areas 2, 5 & 7 (One seat each)

High School Districts 
– Campbell Union Trustee Areas 4 & 5 (One seat each)
– East Side Union (Two seats)
– Fremont Union Trustee Areas 2 & 5 (One seat each)
– Los Gatos-Saratoga Union (Two seats)
– Mt. View-Los Altos Union (Two seats)
– San Benito Trustee Area 1 (One seat)

Elementary School Districts
– Alum Rock Union (Two seats)
– Berryessa Union (Two seats)
– Cambrian (Two seats)
– Campbell Union Trustee Areas 2 & 3 (One seat each)
– Cupertino Union (Two seats)
– Evergreen (Two seats)
– Franklin-McKinley (Two seats)
– Lakeside Joint (Two seats)
– Loma Prieta Joint Union (Two seats)
– Los Altos (Two seats)
– Los Gatos Union (Two seats)
– Luther Burbank (Three seats)
– Moreland Trustee Areas 1 & 5 (One seat each)
– Mountain View Whisman (Three seats)
– Mt. Pleasant (Two seats)
– North County Joint Union (Three seats)
– Oak Grove Trustee Areas 1 & 4 (One seat each)
– Orchard (Two seats)
– Saratoga Union (Two seats)
– Sunnyvale (Trustee Areas 2 & 4 (One seat each)
– Union (Two seats)

Special Districts
– Aldercroft Heights County Water (Three full-term seats, one short-term seat)
– Burbank Sanitary (Two seats)
– Cupertino Sanitary (Three seats)
– El Camino Healthcare (Three seats)
– Lion’s Gate Community Services (Three full-term seats, two short-term seats)
– Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space Wards 3 & 4 (One seat each)
– Purissima Hills Water (Three seats)
– Rancho Rinconada Recreation & Park (Three seats)
– San Martin County Water (Three full-term seats, one short-term seat)
– Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Districts 1, 3 & 4 (One seat each)
– Santa Clara Valley Water Districts 2, 3 & 5 (One seat each)
– Saratoga Fire Protection (Two seats)
– Silver Creek Valley Country Club GHAD (Two full-term seats, three short-term seats)
– South Santa Clara Valley Memorial (Three seats)
– West Bay Sanitary (Three seats)

Candidates may pick up and file nomination papers at the Registrar of Voters’ Office, Candidate Services Division, located at 1555 Berger Drive, Bldg. 2 in San Jose except for those running for city offices.

Candidates running for City offices – who have different filing requirements and deadlines – must pick up and file nomination papers with their respective City Clerks’ Office. 

Where to File

Assistance Offered

The November 5, 2024, General Election Candidate Guide is available to assist those running for office with valuable information pertaining to qualifications for office, terms of office, procedures, fees, forms, and deadline dates. The guide is available at no cost and may be picked up from the Registrar of Voters’ office or downloaded online at https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/november-5-2024-presidential-general-election-resources.

The Registrar of Voters Office will post daily an Unofficial List of Candidates who have pulled papers and have filed qualified to run on our website at https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/november-5-2024-presidential-general-election-resources.

For more information, contact the Candidate Services Division directly at (408) 299-8639;​or contact the Registrar of Voters’ office at (408) 299-VOTE (8683) or toll-free at (866) 430-VOTE (8683), or visit www.sccvote.org.