November 3, 2026, General Election: How to File as a Candidate, What's on the Ballot, and More

Author: Erin Clausen
Date: 7/22/2026 3:01 PM

With just over 100 days until the November 3rd General Election, the SLO County Elections Office is sharing info regarding what contests will be on the ballot, how to file as a candidate, and how to make sure your own voter registration is up-to-date.

The San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder's Office is reminding potential candidates and voters of key dates and requirements ahead of the November 3, 2026, General Election.

The candidate filing period for the November General Election runs from July 13 through 5:00 p.m. on August 7, 2026. This filing window applies to candidates advancing from the June Primary as well as those running for school board, community services district, or special district office.

If an incumbent does not file by the August 7 deadline, the filing period for that office is extended through 5:00 p.m. on August 12, 2026 (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 office should file directly with their respective city clerk, not with 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.

The following local agencies have contested offices on the November 3, 2026, General Election ballot:

School Districts / Boards of Education
San Luis Obispo County Board of Education; SLO County Community College District (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; Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District

Community Services Districts
Avila Beach; California Valley; Cambria; Ground Squirrel Hollow; Heritage Ranch; Independence Ranch; Linne; Los Osos; Nipomo; Oceano; San Miguel; San Simeon; Squire Canyon; Templeton

Special Districts
Port San Luis Harbor District; Santa Margarita Fire Protection District; Cambria Community Healthcare District; Cayucos Sanitary District; Garden Farms Community Water District; Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District

In addition, offices that include candidates advancing from the top-two June Primary - including seats for the U.S. House of Representatives, State Assembly, and statewide constitutional offices - will appear on the November ballot.

A full list of offices, filing fees, nomination signature requirements, and qualification standards is available in the County's Candidate Filing Guidelines.

Notices of Election

Formal Notices of Election for the offices above are posted online at slovote/gov/november2026.

Each notice includes the date of the election, the office(s) to be filled, the applicable nomination period, and contact information for the County Elections Official, as required by the California Elections Code.

Voter Registration

Eligible residents who are not yet registered, or who need to update an existing registration (such as a name or address change), can do so at registertovote.ca.gov.

• Registration deadline: October 19, 2026 (15 days before Election Day)

• Conditional (same-day) voter registration remains available from October 20 through Election Day, November 3, 2026, 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

All registered voters will automatically receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot, which will be mailed to them by October 5, and ballot drop boxes will open that day as well. Additionally, early in-person voting begins October 5 at the Elections Office in SLO; the Atascadero Elections Office will be open for early voting and other voter assistance from October 26 through Election Day. Polling places throughout the county will be open on Election Day, November 3, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For questions about candidate filing, voter registration, or the November election, contact the Elections Office at (805) 781-5228, [email protected], or visit www.slovote.gov/november2026.