TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ryan J. Alsop, Chief Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Andrew M. Mize, Legislative & Policy Analyst
SUBJECT: Elections Consolidation Discussion
RECOMMENDATION
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Discuss and provide direction to staff regarding the consolidation of all local countywide elections to the Presidential election cycle, moving the elections of the positions of Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, Auditor-Controller, and Treasurer-Tax Collector from the gubernatorial election cycle (next slated for June 2, 2026 [primary election], and November 5, 2025 [general election]) to the presidential election cycle (next slated for March 7, 2028 [primary election], and November 7, 2028 [general election]), thereby extending the terms of those offices one time by two years from expiring on January 5, 2027, to expiring on January 2, 2029. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
This matter is before the Board on referral to the CEO at the Board's September 16, 2025 special meeting. In 2022, the Legislature and Governor amended California's Elections Code Section 1300 (Stats. 2022, Ch. 743) to require that elections for Sheriff and DA be held during the presidential election cycle. The new law additionally authorized local Boards of Supervisors to move the elections for Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, Auditor-Controller, and Treasurer-Tax Collector from their current gubernatorial election cycle to the presidential election cycle (Elections Code Section 1300(b)(2)).
At the time, the author of the bill argued that "county officers should be elected in presidential election years rather than gubernatorial election years because presidential elections tend to have higher and more representative turnout," so "electing county officers in presidential election years will promote political equality and enhanced citizen participation." (Heidom, Nicolas, Legislative Analyst's Office, Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments Analysis of AB 759 (McCarty), prepared fo...
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