General Glendale Election FAQ

Who is responsible for conducting City elections?

The City Clerk conducts consolidated 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.

The City Clerk assists candidates in meeting their legal responsibilities before, during and after an election. From Election pre-planning to certification of election results and filing of final campaign disclosure documents, the City Clerk manages the process which forms the foundation of our democratic system of government.

When are elections held in the City of Glendale?

Elections for City officials are held the first Tuesday in April of odd-numbered years. The next City election will be held April 7, 2009 and voters will elect three Council members, a City Clerk, a City Treasurer, three members to the Glendale Unified School District Governing Board, and three members to the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees.

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 Glendale, Glendale Community College/Glendale Unified School District jurisdictions at the time nomination forms are issued to you.

When can I obtain the required forms?

All required forms and guidelines to run for Office in the April 7, 2009 election will be available in the City Clerk’s Office starting January 8, 2009. Candidates must file all of the required documents with the City Clerk no later than 5:30 p.m. on January 29, 2009. An Election Calendar is available on-line to assist you with filing deadlines and documents.

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?

• 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 $1,000 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.

Can I obtain the required forms electronically (e.g. Forms 410, 501, etc.)?

Yes. The Secretary of State and Fair Political Practices Commission have forms available on their websites.

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

Where do I get election results? How long does it take to count the ballots?

At 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, the polls close. All ballots from the polls are taken to a designated site at the Civic Center (called the Central Counting Place), where they are counted by a ballot counting machine. Ballot counting continues until all ballots received from the polls are tallied.

The (unofficial) results are given to the media and those individuals present at the Central Counting Place. These results will be available on the City of Glendale website on election night. In addition, these results, along with vote-by-mail voter and provisional ballots, constitute the "official" canvass and are presented to the City Council for approval at the second regular meeting following the election. (Glendale Charter, Article V, Section 3).

How do I get to be 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, and you must be registered at least 15 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote. Check the Registrar of Voters website for further information. Registration forms are available at the following locations:

On Election Day, how and where do I vote?

Before each election, the City Clerk sends every registered voter a Voter Information Guide (Sample Ballot) that lists the candidates and polling location. On Election Day, the voter goes to the polling place indicated on the pamphlet. Election workers at the polls will check the roster for the voter's name, and will also instruct the voter on how to use the voting equipment, if necessary.

Campaign Regulations FAQ

This FAQ relates to the City of Glendale campaign regulations as they relate to the Office of City Council, City Clerk, City Treasurer, School Board and College Board Members. There may be other regulations under State law.

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 elected office. However, you cannot donate to a candidate for political office in Glendale if you have a contract or multiple contracts with the City of Glendale with a total value of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or more. Also, you cannot make campaign contributions if you are an applicant for entitlements to the City Council or Redevelopment Agency while your application is pending and up to 90 days after the final approval has been granted.

How much can I contribute to my favorite candidate?

You cannot contribute more that $1,000 to any one candidate. This includes both monetary and non-monetary gifts. Volunteer hours, however, are not subject to any limitation.

How much can I contribute overall during each election cycle?

You may donate up to $1,000 per candidate. If there are 4 vacancies in office, you may donate a total of $4,000, ($1,000 per candidate). If there are 5 vacancies in office, you may donate a total of $5,000.

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 $1,000 per candidate. If you each wanted to donate the maximum to your favorite candidate for office, together you can donate a total of $2,000.

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 $1,000 maximum campaign contribution, and so you would only be able to donate another $750 to this candidate.

If I run 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 $1,000.

If I run two separate entities, can we make two $1,000 contributions?

Two entities are limited to one $1,000 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 or stakeholders, or are in a parent subsidiary relationship.

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.

Can I make a loan to a candidate for office?

Yes, but it is considered a contribution and is limited to $1,000 per candidate. The loan agreement must be in writing and filed with the candidate’s committee campaign statement.

Commercial lending institutions and the candidates themselves are permitted to lend the campaign up to $5,000.

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 fund raiser, 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 $1,000. Also, any incidental food and beverage served at your home during this type of event shall not be considered a campaign contribution.

Are there penalties for purposefully contributing more than the $1,000 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 or negligently violates Glendale’s campaign contribution law, and can pursue either $1,000 or three times the amount in excess of the maximum $1,000 contribution, 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.