Elections

Riverside City Council - Election Date Changes

Beginning in 2022, Riverside City Council elections will coincide with statewide primary and general election dates. A one-time extension of future Council-member terms accommodates the adjustment from odd to even-numbered years. City election dates will adjust to match any future changes to statewide election dates.

Municipal Elections

The Riverside Charter designates the City Clerk as having charge of all City elections. As the Elections Official, the City Clerk processes nominations for Mayor and City Council candidates and accepts campaign finance filings.

The City Clerk also administers elections for ballot measures for City matters.

The Riverside Charter sets forth the number of elected officials for the City and their method of election. All are non-partisan positions serving four-year terms and may be re-elected without limit. The City of Riverside has eight elected officials including the Mayor and the seven members of the City Council. The City Clerk serves as the local elections official.

The Riverside Mayor is elected at-large by voters of the entire City while the members of the City Council are voted into office by electors in each of the City's seven Wards. Registered voters cast ballots for City Council candidates only for the Ward in which they reside. Prior to 2022, regular elections for members of the City Council occur in June of odd-numbered years. If no candidate receives a majority of votes cast for the office, a runoff election is held the following November. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the regular election shall be the candidates in the runoff election.

The Mayoral election is held in March of U.S. Presidential election years. A runoff election, if required, is held the following November.

Elections held in June of odd-numbered years are stand-alone all mail-in ballot elections. All other regular and run-off elections are conducted by polling place and consolidated with other elections being held in the County of Riverside on the same day.

For information on how to become an Election Officer please click here.

For more information, please call the City Clerk’s Office at (951) 826-5557.