County shares details on candidate filing, offices, Nov. 3 voting
Vote-by-mail ballots and early in-person voting begin Oct. 5
– Two weeks remain for candidates to file paperwork required to run for office in the Nov. 3 General Election, according to the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office.
With just over 100 days remaining until the election, the office is reminding potential candidates and voters about filing requirements, offices on the ballot, voter registration deadlines, and voting options.
The candidate filing period runs from July 13 through 5 p.m. Aug. 7. The filing window applies to candidates advancing from the June primary, as well as those running for school board, community services district, or special district offices.
If an incumbent does not file by the Aug. 7 deadline, the filing period for that office will extend through 5 p.m. Aug. 12 for non-incumbents only.
Prospective candidates for a school board, community services district, or special district seat must schedule a filing appointment in advance by calling the Elections Office at (805) 781-5228.
Candidates for city offices must file directly with their respective city clerk rather than the County Elections Office. Residents interested in running for a city council or other municipal office should contact their city clerk’s office for city-specific filing dates and requirements.
School districts and boards of education with contested offices on the Nov. 3 ballot include the San Luis Obispo County Board of Education, San Luis Obispo County Community College District, also known as Cuesta College, Allan Hancock Joint Community College District, Atascadero Unified School District, Coast Unified School District, Cuyama Joint Unified School District, Lucia Mar Unified School District, Paso Robles Joint Unified School District, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, San Miguel Joint Union School District, Santa Maria Bonita School District, Shandon Joint Unified School District, Templeton Unified School District, Cayucos Elementary School District, and Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District.
Community services districts with contested offices include Avila Beach, California Valley, Cambria, Ground Squirrel Hollow, Heritage Ranch, Independence Ranch, Linne, Los Osos, Nipomo, Oceano, San Miguel, San Simeon, Squire Canyon, and Templeton.
Special districts with contested offices include Port San Luis Harbor District, Santa Margarita Fire Protection District, Cambria Community Healthcare District, Cayucos Sanitary District, Garden Farms Community Water District, and Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District.
The November ballot will also include offices with candidates advancing from the top-two June primary, including seats for the U.S. House of Representatives, State Assembly, and statewide constitutional offices.
A full list of offices, filing fees, nomination signature requirements, and qualification standards is available in the county’s Candidate Filing Guidelines.
Formal Notices of Election for the offices are available at www.slovote.gov/november2026.
Notices of Election for community services districts are available at https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/…/202…/notices-csd-combined.
Notices of Election for school districts are available at https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/…/notices-school-board
Notices of Election for special districts are available at https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/…/notices-special-district
Each notice includes the election date, offices to be filled, applicable nomination period, and contact information for the county elections official, as required by the California Elections Code.
Eligible residents who are not registered to vote or who need to update an existing registration, including because of a name or address change, can register or update their information at registertovote.ca.gov.
The voter registration deadline is Oct. 19, 15 days before Election Day.
Conditional, or same-day, voter registration will remain available from Oct. 20 through Election Day, Nov. 3, in person at the County Elections Office, a satellite office, or a polling place.
Voters can confirm their registration status at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
Registered voters can track the status of their mailed ballot through BallotTrax at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.
All registered voters will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot, which will be mailed by Oct. 5. Ballot drop boxes will also open that day.
Early in-person voting begins Oct. 5 at the Elections Office in San Luis Obispo. The Atascadero Elections Office will be open for early voting and other voter assistance from Oct. 26 through Election Day.
Polling places throughout the county will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.
For questions about candidate filing, voter registration, or the November election, call the Elections Office at (805) 781-5228, email elections@co.slo.ca.us, or visit www.slovote.gov/november2026.
Additional information from the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is available at www.slovote.com.
