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Council approves election-code amendments and calls June 2 municipal primary
Summary
The council unanimously approved ordinance amendments to election-related sections of the municipal code (second reading) and adopted an ordinance calling and consolidating the City of San Diego's municipal primary and a special election with the statewide primary on June 2, 2026; staff estimated city election costs and described nomination and ballot-drop timelines.
The City Council approved two election-related items: a second-reading adoption of amendments to multiple divisions of Chapter 2, Article 7 of the San Diego Municipal Code and an ordinance calling the municipal primary and a consolidated special election for June 2, 2026.
City Clerk Diana Fuentes explained the second-reading amendments were a reorganization and in-depth review of election code provisions that were previously heard in committee and at the first reading in December 2025. "Nothing has changed from that first reading," the clerk said, and the council waived additional presentation before taking public comment and a vote.
Deputy Director Christina Hernandez of the Office of the City Clerk presented the ordinance calling the primary and described the administrative timeline: nomination papers for Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 will be available beginning Feb. 4, the registrar's voter report dated Jan. 5 showed 835,438 registered voters in the city, and a ballot drop box at City Hall will open May 5 and remain available until 8 p.m. on election day. Hernandez said the Department of Finance budgeted $1.76 million in the citywide elections fund for FY2026; actual costs will depend on participating jurisdictions and the number of contests.
Council member Campbell moved approval of the clerk's recommendations to adopt the ordinance; Council member Whitburn seconded. The council called the vote and the measures passed unanimously, 8-0, with Council member Campeo absent.
The actions will allow the city to proceed with candidate nomination and election administration on the timetable outlined by the Clerk's office. The council did not alter district boundaries; a mapping error shown on the meeting slide was corrected for the record.
