Voter Registration

• Voter Registration Information

• Secretary of State website: General Election, November 3, 2026

• SLO County Clerk-Recorder website: November 3, 2026 Election Results

Refer to the County Clerk-Recorder's Election webpage for more information.

Candidate Filings for the November 3, 2026 Election

Candidates for Mayor and City Council will be listed below once filing information has been posted. FPPC Elections Filings will be available to the public, linked to the candidate names (once posted) or will be viewable in the Office of the City Clerk.

Note that the term for Mayor is 2-years, with a term limit of four consecutive terms. The term length for City Council is 4-years, with a term limit of two consecutive terms. Therefore the Mayor seat is contested at each regular 2-year election cycle. City Council seats are staggered so that two of the four Council seats are contest every regular 2-year election cycle.

Seats Up for Election - 2026 General Election:

• Mayor - Position held by incumbent Erica A. Stewart
• Council Member - Position held by incumbent Emily Francis
• Council Member - Position held by incumbent Michelle Shoresman

Mayor Candidates:

 Council Candidates:

Candidate Resources:

The City has developed a handbook for candidates to use as a general resource guide to assist in facilitating the election process (linked below).

• 2026 Candidate Handbook

The City's Leadership Team will host a Candidate Orientation on August 27, 2026. The purpose of the orientation is to introduce candidates to the Leadership Team and provide an overview of the role of City Council, role of City Manager and City Attorney, department functions, and the City's budget.

Below, is the PowerPoint that was presented at the August 27, 2024 Candidate Orientation:

• 2024 Candidate Orientation Presentation

Campaign Disclosure Statements:

Beginning in 2020, Campaign Statements are accepted as electronic uploads directly from campaign officials following submission of their Statement of Organization (410 Form) to the City Clerk's office. All original documents (un-redacted) are public information and available in the City Clerk's Office for review during regular business hours Monday through Friday. The cost for obtaining hard copies is .10 cents per page.

Candidate Controlled Committees, Primarily Formed Committees, and General Purpose Committees financial disclosure documents may be viewed at the following links:

• Filing dates beginning January 1, 2020
• Filing dates prior to 2020

Past election campaign statements are available for inspection and copy in the office of the City Clerk during normal business hours.

Regulations:

Election Campaign

The City of San Luis Obispo has enacted local election campaign regulations contained in Chapter 2.40 of the Municipal Code.

Political Signs

The City and State have established certain rules regarding the placement of posters, leaflets, banners, and other information that fall into the category of political signs. These rules are designed to keep the City clean and safe. Failure to comply may result in confiscation of signs, levying of fines (Municipal Code 1.24), citations for an infraction or misdemeanor prosecution.

Basic rules include:

1. Up to three temporary signs are allowed in conformance with the following requirements:
   • Regardless of the total number of signs posted at any time, temporary signs shall not exceed 120 days per sign in total duration per calendar year;
   • Individual signs shall not exceed five square feet; 
   • Temporary signs may only be placed in the yard area.
2. You may not put political signs on public property; this includes public buildings and property, public easements, public rights-of-way, parkways, parks, public open space, utility poles, street signs and trees. 
3. You must have the owner's permission to display signs on private property.
4. Political signs may be put up at any time prior to the election without City permission; however they must be removed no later than ten (10) days following the election (City Ordinance No. 1407, 2002 Series).
5. It is illegal to put leaflets, political or otherwise, in or on a vehicle unless the driver or passenger accepts it.  Fines for putting leaflets on cars, e.g., under windshield wipers, can be as high as $1,000, as each leaflet may be considered as a separate violation.

Past Election information may be found in our archive or by contacting the City Clerk.

Voter Registration Information:

• Voter registration status can be verified at the San Luis Obispo County Clerk's "Voter Registration" webpage.
• Online Voter Registration may be done at the  California Secretary of State web site.
• The California Secretary of State is now offering Where’s My Ballot?—a new way for voters to track and receive notifications on the status of their vote-by-mail ballot at this website. 

Questions?

Contact the City Clerk's Office at (805) 781-7114 or cityclerk@slocity.org