Oceanside, CA
Home MenuElections / FPPC Reporting Program
The City Clerk is the City’s Election Official. As such, the City Clerk Department is responsible for the conduct of all municipal elections as mandated by law, as well as the dissemination of election information and Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) information. The Department administers the federal, state and local procedures through which municipal representatives are elected and assists candidates in meeting their legal responsibilities before, during and after an election. This includes coordination with the California Secretary of State and the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.
For more information, please visit the San Diego Registrar’s website.
General Election Information
Oceanside is a Charter City governed by a five-member City Council. Elected City officials serve four-year terms, and include the Mayor, four City Council members, the City Clerk, and the City Treasurer. The Mayor, Clerk, and Treasurer are elected at-large, while the Councilmembers are elected by the residents of their individual Districts. Oceanside's General Municipal Elections are held in November of even-numbered years, and are consolidated with the statewide election through the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.
In November 2026, Council seats for Districts 1 and 2 will be up for election.
For information on the four City Council Districts in Oceanside, visit the City of Oceanside Districts page. To find out which Oceanside City Council District you live in, you can check the City of Oceanside Population Viewer website.
General Requirements for Candidacy
Candidates for public office in the City of Oceanside must be citizens of California aged 18 or older. They must reside in Oceanside and be a registered voter eligible to vote in Oceanside at the time their nomination papers are issued. Candidates must appear in person in the City Clerk's Office during the Nomination Period to be issued their Nomination Papers. At that time, all information necessary to run for office will be provided in the form of a Candidate Handbook. There is an optional cost if the candidate wants to include a Candidate's Statement in the Sample Ballot. This cost changes with each election, so the estimate we quote may be different from the final amount due.
In October of 2022 the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 22-OR0719-1 establishing minimum qualifications for the position of City Treasurer, which will be required of all candidates beginning with the 2024 general election. If you plan to run for City Treasurer, please email CityClerk@oceansideca.org to confirm your qualifications.
Electronic Filing
The City Clerk is also the Local Filing Officer to which all filings and statements required by the Political Reform Act and enforced by the Fair Political Practices Commission are submitted. This includes statements of economic interest (Form 700) and various candidate and political action committee disclosures through contribution and expenditure reports. Visit our Electronic Filing Information page for more information.
Voter Registration and Polling Places
Citizens can obtain voter registration forms from the City Clerk's office or register online with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. You can also find your polling place on the Registrar of Voters website, or City Clerk staff can assist you.