Elections

General Municipal Election - November 3, 2020

1 Mayor Seat - 2-year term
2 Council Seats - 4-year terms

The period for potential Council and Mayor candidates to pull papers for nomination in this election opens on Monday, July 13 and runs through Friday, August 7, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.  If an incumbent for either of these offices does not file during this period, the nomination period extends until August 12, 2020. 

The City Clerk’s Office will be taking in-person and online appointments Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with the last appointment starting at 4:30 p.m.) during this period to process nomination papers for those seeking elective office. An appointment is required with 24 hours notice.  

Appointments can be scheduled by calling the Dublin City Clerk’s Office at (925) 833-6644 or email city.clerk@dublin.ca.gov. 

Local Government and the Democratic Process


General municipal elections are held in November of even-numbered years. 

Members of the City Council are elected at-large to serve the entire community rather than by district. The mayor is directly elected to a two-year term and the four City Council members are elected to four-year staggered terms.

In November 1996, voters in Dublin established term limits which state generally that no one may serve more than eight consecutive years in any combination of positions on the City Council.

In lieu of a filing fee, potential candidates are required to gather 20 signatures of registered Dublin voters on a supplied nomination form.  Candidates who wish to have a statement of their qualifications published in the sample ballot, which goes to all registered voters, must pay their prorated share of the publishing / printing costs. This generally equals approximately $500 per candidate.

Note: Based on an established schedule, candidates must file statements reporting all campaign contributions and expenditures for the designated time period. Candidates cannot accept more than $500 in campaign contributions from a person. Dublin Municipal Code Section 2.28.

Interested in becoming a candidate for City of Dublin Mayor or City Council?

Pre-candidate Informational Meeting Materials
Pre-candidate Informational Meeting PowerPoint

Candidate Requirements

  • Anyone who is 18 years of age; and,
  • A registered voter in Dublin

Getting Started

The next scheduled general municipal election will be held November 3, 2020, to fill the Mayor and two City Councilmember positions. The following steps will give you an overview of how to get started. Contact City Clerk Marsha Moore via email  or telephone, at (925) 833-6650, with questions.

  • Review the Fair Political Practices Commission (“FPPC”) Campaign Disclosure Manual 2, which is available online at www.fppc.ca.gov. This manual provides information on campaign disclosure rules as required under the Political Reform Act.  FPPC provides advice by phone at 1-800-275-3772 or by e-mail at advice@fppc.ca.gov.  (At this time, email is the best method to reach the FPPC.)
  • File FPPC Form 501 Candidate Intention Statement with the City Clerk before receiving contributions or spending own funds.  (Blank forms are available from the City Clerk or at www.fppc.ca.gov and Campaign Disclosure Manual 2 gives detailed instructions for completing Form 501.)
  • File FPPC Form 410 Statement of Organization with the Secretary of State, along with a filing fee of $50.00, made payable to the Secretary of State, within 10 days of receiving $2,000 in contributions.  File a copy of the Form 410 with the city clerk.  (Blank forms are available from the City Clerk or at www.fppc.ca.gov and Campaign Disclosure Manual 2 gives detailed instructions for completing Form 410).