Election FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions regarding the City of Glendale’s elections and campaign regulations as they relate to the offices of City Council, City Clerk, City Treasurer, School Board and College Board Members. There may be other regulations under State law that are not covered on this Election FAQ page that candidates or voters may be required to follow. We suggest that you contact the Office of the City Clerk when something in this section is not clear or if you need additional information.

Disclaimer: This FAQ is provided for informational purposes only. Candidates should refer to the Glendale Municipal Code Chapter 1.10 for specifics and FPPC regulations and Form 460 for reporting requirements.

PLEASE NOTE: CITY COUNCIL MODIFIED THE CAMPAIGN REGULATIONS TO RAISE THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMIT FROM $1,190 TO $1,340 PER PERSON IN A SINGLE ELECTION CYCLE. For additional information please click here. 

Campaign Finance & Contribution FAQs:

• Does the City of Glendale have campaign contribution limits?
  Yes. In July 2008, the City Council enacted an ordinance establishing local election campaign regulations. These regulations may be reviewed in their entirety in § 1.10 of the GMC. More questions related to this can be found on this page.

• Are there penalties for purposefully contributing more than the $1,340 maximum contribution?
  Yes, anyone who knowingly or willfully violates Glendale’s campaign contribution law may be charged with a misdemeanor and may be punished with up to six (6) months in jail or fined up to $1,000 for each offense. The City Attorney can bring a lawsuit against anyone who intentionally violates Glendale’s Campaign contribution law, and can pursue either $1,000 or three times the amount in excess of the maximum $1,340, whichever is greater.

  Additional information regarding local election campaign regulations may be found in the Glendale Municipal Code Section 1.10 or by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at 818-548-2090.

• If I host a party for a candidate at my house, is that considered a contribution?
  As long as your home is being used for a fundraiser, to host a “meet-and-greet”, or to hold a forum, it will not be considered a contribution and will not affect your ability to donate $1,340. Also, any incidental food and beverage served at your home during this type of event shall not be considered a campaign contribution for purposes of the City’s campaign finance ordinance.

• Can I make a loan to a candidate for office?
  Yes, but it is considered a contribution and is limited to $1,340 per candidate. There is, however, no limit on the amount a candidate may personally loan his or her campaign provided the loan is documented in writing. Any loan to a campaign, including personal loans, must be documented by written agreement which shall be filed with the candidate’s committee campaign statement.

  Commercial lending institutions are permitted to lend a campaign up to $5,000 if made in the regular course of business on the same terms available to members of the public and provided the loan is secured or guaranteed.

• If I am a member in a partnership or corporation, is my contribution separate from the partnership’s contribution?
  They would be considered separate so long as you don’t have a controlling interest of 50% or more in the partnership.

• If I run two separate entities, can we make two $1,340 contributions?
  Two entities are limited to one $1,340 contribution if they share the majority of members of board of directors, share two (2) or more officers, are owned or controlled by the same majority stakeholder(s), or are in a parent subsidiary relationship.

• If I run a committee, can the committee donate to my candidate of choice?
  Yes, the maximum combined contribution by the committee and you as sponsor of the committee may not exceed $1,340.

• Can I make a contribution for my child?
  Yes, you can. However, if your child is under eighteen (18) years of age, the contribution will be treated as coming from his or her parents and will be attributed proportionally to each parent. If you were to donate $500 for your minor child, $250 would be considered from you, and $250 would be considered from the child’s other parent. The $250 attributed to you would count against your $1,340 maximum campaign contribution, and so you would only be able to donate another $1,090 to this candidate.

• If my spouse and I each want to contribute, how much can we each give?
  For purposes of campaign contributions, spouses are considered separate individuals and may each donate up to $1,340 per candidate. If you each wanted to donate the maximum to your favorite candidate for office, together you can donate a total of $2,680.

• How much can I contribute overall during each election cycle?
  You may donate up to $1,340 per candidate, up to a maximum of $1,340 multiplied by the number of candidates. The maximum per candidate is still $1,340. 

• How much can I contribute to my favorite candidate?
  You cannot contribute more than $1,340 to any one candidate. This includes both monetary and non-monetary contributions. Volunteer hours, however, are not subject to any limitation.

• Can I donate money to the campaign of a candidate for office in a City of Glendale election?
  Yes, anyone (other than a City of Glendale employee) can donate money to a campaign for City elected office. However, you cannot donate to a candidate for City elective office in Glendale if you (or an entity in which you hold a specified management position or in which you have a 10% or greater interest) have a contract or multiple contracts with the City of Glendale with a total value of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or more. Also, you cannot make a contribution if you are a specified subcontractor under a City contract where the subcontract is valued at $25,000 or more. Further, you cannot make campaign contributions if you are an applicant for specific land use entitlements before the City Council or Housing Authority, while your application is pending and up to twelve (12) months after the final approval has been granted. Please refer to GMC § 1.10.060 for applicable restrictions on contributions from contractors, subcontractors, and applicants for entitlement, and those persons within said entities to which these restrictions apply.

Voters & Voting FAQs:

• When are elections held in the City of Glendale?
  In accordance with the California Voter Participation Rights Act (SB 415) and after the passage of Measure P by Glendale voters in 2018, General Municipal Elections shall be held to coincide with any statewide primary election date in even numbered years. The next Glendale Municipal Election will take place on March 5, 2024.

• How and where do I vote?

  Los Angeles County has transitioned from polling places to Vote Centers, which allow voters to cast a ballot at any Vote Center location in the County over an 11-day period, beginning on Saturday, February 24. The last day to vote in this Election at any Vote Center in LA County is Tuesday, March 5, 2024. A listing of Vote Centers in the Glendale area will be provided on this webpage when confirmed by the County. Vote Centers will offer new, fully accessible Ballot Marking Devices to make voting easier, including translation of the ballot into 12 languages. These devices will allow voters to cast their votes on a screen, review their selections, then print their ballot for a final review. When the voter has finished reviewing the ballot, they will insert the ballot back into the machine which transfers the ballot directly into a secured ballot box. For more information, please visit the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s website here. 

  Every registered voter will receive a Vote by mail ballot. Vote by mail ballots can be returned by mail or in-person at designated drop-off locations. 

• How do I become a registered voter in Glendale?
  Any Glendale resident who is 18 years of age and a citizen of the United States or naturalized citizen can register to vote by completing an Affidavit of Registration. It is recommended you file a new form each time your address or name changes. In order to have your name appear in the Electronic Pollbook, you must be registered at least 15 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote. For those who miss this deadline, you may still vote at any Vote Center in L.A. County through Conditional Voter Registration. Check the Registrar of Voters website for further information. Registration forms are available at the following locations:

  City of Glendale
  Office of the City Clerk & Election Services
  613 E. Broadway, Rm. 110
  Glendale, CA 91206
  818-548-2090
  City Clerk Website

  L.A. Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
  Voter Records Division
  12400 Imperial Hwy
  Norwalk, CA 90650
  562-462-2934
  
  Online Voter Registration: Visit CA Secretary of State’s website to learn more.

• Who is responsible for conducting the Glendale Municipal Election?
  The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk conducts elections for the City of Glendale, the Glendale Unified School District Governing Board, and the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees. As an Elections Official, the City Clerk administers Federal, State and Local procedures by which local government representatives are elected. This includes Election pre-planning, certification of election results, and filing of final campaign disclosure documents.

• What is the deadline to mail a Vote-By-Mail Ballot?
  If a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot is postmarked on or before Election Day (March 5, 2024) and arrives to the City election office via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than three days, (March 8, 2024) after the election, it will be processed for count. (California Election Code 4103 b. 1&2) 

Candidate FAQs:

• What do I need to do to become a candidate for the next City election?
  To become a candidate in the next city election, you must first be a registered voter and reside in the jurisdiction within which you want to run (City of Glendale, Glendale Community College/Glendale Unified School District) at the time nomination forms are issued to you. Nomination forms are available on November 13, 2023. The final day to file the requisite forms is December 8, 2023 unless otherwise stated by the City Clerk’s office.

• Where do I get the required forms to start a campaign committee?
  You may obtain the required forms in the City Clerk's Office, 613 E. Broadway, Room 110, or you may download the forms available through the Secretary of State or Fair Political Practices Commission websites.

• What forms do I need to start a campaign committee?
  • Form 501 - Candidate Intention Statement: Before any contributions are solicited or received, and before any campaign expenditures are made from personal funds, candidates must file Form 501. Candidates for local offices file this form with the City Clerk. The Form 501 is considered filed when it is placed in the mail. The date of the postmark is the date filed.
  • Form 410 - Statement of Organization: The original Form 410 and one copy are filed with the Secretary of State within 10 days of receiving $2,000 or more. Candidates for local office and committees formed to support or oppose candidates for local offices also must file a copy of the Form 410 with the City Clerk.