Legislation Details

File #: 26-763    Version: 1
Type: Strategic Support Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 6/9/2026 In control: City Council
On agenda: 6/23/2026 Final action:
Title: Proposed Ballot Measure for the November 3, 2026, Election to Amend the City Charter to Allow the City Council the Option to Utilize Ranked Choice Voting Only in an Election to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of the Mayor or Councilmember.
Attachments: 1. Memorandum, 2. Memorandum from Cohen, Kamei, Mulcahy, and Tordillos, 5/27/26, 3. Resolution, 4. Letters from the Public

...Title

Proposed Ballot Measure for the November 3, 2026, Election to Amend the City Charter to Allow the City Council the Option to Utilize Ranked Choice Voting Only in an Election to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of the Mayor or Councilmember.

...Recommendations

Adopt a resolution of the City Council:

(a) Calling and giving notice, on its own motion, for a Special Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2026, to submit to the electors of the City of San José, the following measure: Shall the City Charter be amended to allow the City Council the option to utilize Ranked Choice Voting in an election to fill a vacancy in the office of the Mayor or Council Member?

(b) Directing the City Clerk to, pursuant to Elections Code Section 12111, cause a synopsis of the proposed measure to be published at least one time not later than one week before the election in the San Jose Mercury News, a newspaper of general circulation within the City of San José, instead of printing the full text of the measure in the Sample Ballot;

(c) Authorizing the City Council, or any member or members of the City Council, to submit a ballot argument in favor of the measure pursuant to Elections Code Section 9282; 

(d) Authorizing the submittal of rebuttal arguments or, in the alternative, declining to authorize the submittal of rebuttal arguments pursuant to Elections Code Section 9285;

(e) Directing the City Attorney to prepare an Impartial Analysis of the measure pursuant to Elections Code Section 9280; and

(f) Directing the City Clerk to take all other actions necessary to place this measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

CEQA: Not a Project, File No. PP17-008, General Procedure and Policy Making resulting in no changes to the physical environment. (City Attorney)

[Rules Committee referral 5/27/2026 - Item C.1]