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Huntington Park Council moves municipal elections to November to align with state schedule
Summary
City staff told the council that state law changes required a municipal-code update; the council adopted an ordinance shifting council elections to the November general election in even years and extending current terms to align with that date.
The Huntington Park City Council voted to amend its municipal code to move city council elections to the November general election in even-numbered years.
City staff explained the action stemmed from state legislation (SB 415 and subsequent changes) that shifted statewide primary timing and created a compliance requirement for local election calendars. The amendment replaces references to March election dates in city code and makes November the regular election date going forward; staff said the change will take effect this year and will extend current councilmembers’ terms to reach the new date.
Council members discussed whether to align with the state primary (in some years held in June) or the November general election. Proponents said November typically produces higher turnout; one council member cited an example of a neighboring city whose shift produced a large increase in ballots cast. Others expressed concern about calendar changes affecting the council reorganization, which the municipal code directs to occur after elections and has historically been timed in April.
Staff acknowledged the need to amend the reorganization timeline in code and said they would return with technical edits to adjust the reorganization timing consistent with the new election date. The council then moved, seconded and adopted the ordinance.
The ordinance was introduced as “Ordinance 2026-01 amending Title 2, Chapter 9 (Municipal Elections) of the Huntington Park Municipal Code.” Council members did not make additional substantive amendments during the meeting; staff said implementation steps will be handled administratively and by subsequent ordinance cleanups if needed.
The council action means Huntington Park’s municipal elections will be held on the November general-election date in even years going forward; the staff-recommended implementation is intended to align the city with statewide election cycles and increase voter participation.
