Eligible voters in the City Council district covering the UC Berkeley campus and five blocks south should register by Apr. 1. Use the City website to review campaign finance reports and candidate statements.
Eligible voters in District 7, which stretches from inside the UC Berkeley campus to five blocks south, have quick timelines to register to vote in an April special election.
Start by using the City's council district lookup tool to see whether you are within District 7. US citizens in the district who are at least 18 years old should register to vote by April 1. Visit the City’s elections page to find candidate statements and campaign finance reports.
Residents in District 4, which covers downtown and central Berkeley, will vote on May 28 in a separate special election to elect their councilmember.
Candidate filing period is open until February 16
Candidates interested in being on the ballot must file all required nomination forms by 5:00 pm on Friday, February 16. Appointments are required for candidates to obtain and file nomination documents. To schedule an appointment, email elections@berkeleyca.gov or call (510) 981-6908.
If you want to be a candidate for City Council District 7, please review candidate information, including the election calendar and candidate handbook. To be eligible, candidates must be a US citizen 18 years or older and have resided in Berkeley District 7 for at least thirty days before filing.
Candidates can receive matching funds from the City to help fund their campaign through the optional Public Financing Program. Learn more about campaign finance.
City Council called for the special mail-only election in District 7 to fill the vacancy created by District 7 Councilmember Rigel Robinson’s resignation on January 12, 2024.
Register by April 1 to vote in April 16 election
You can register to vote online.
You'll need:
- California driver's license or ID card number
- last four digits of your social security number
- date of birth
If you don't have a California driver's license or state-issued ID, you can still fill out the online registration form. The website will create a pre-filled application for you to print, sign, and mail.
Alternatively, register with paper applications, available at any public library, the US post office, DMV, or the City Clerk Department at 2180 Milvia Street. Paper applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered by 5:00 pm on Monday, April 1 to:
Alameda County Registrar of Voters
1225 Fallon Street, Room G1
Oakland, CA 94612
If you are already registered, check your registration status to confirm that your information is correct. You need to re-register if you have moved, changed your name, or wish to change your political party preference.
If you miss the April 1 registration deadline, eligible citizens can register and vote at their county elections office or vote center.
These ballots take longer to process, but they will be counted once the county elections office verifies your voter registration.
To avoid delay, register to vote online.
Mail-ballot voting starts on March 18, 2024
All registered voters in District 7 will receive a ballot and a return envelope in the mail. The vote-by-mail period opens on March 18, 2024.
Voters can send their ballots by mail, deliver them to election drop boxes, or visit a vote center in person. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day.
Drop boxes will be available at:
- UC Berkeley between Sather Gate and Architects & Engineers Building
- In front of Berkeley City Hall, 2180 Milvia Street
- An in-person vote center in District 7 will be announced closer to election day
Register by April 1 to vote in the District 7 Special Election on April 16. For those who would like to run for Council, make an appointment to obtain nomination papers and plan to file them by February 16.
Updated March 11, 2024 to reflect availability of candidate statements and campaign finance reports online.
