Election Information

Municipal Elections

Avenal is a general law city governed by a five-member City Council. Members of the City Council are elected at large for a four-year term. A municipal election is held on the first Tuesday in November in even-numbered years. In December, following the Municipal Election Certification, the Council meets and chooses one of its members as Mayor and one as Vice-Mayor (Mayor Pro Tem). The Mayor is the presiding officer of the Council and of the City's Joint Powers Finance Authority and the Housing Authority.

 The City Clerk serves as the election officer and is responsible for issuance and acceptance of nomination papers, city measures and the publication of necessary legal notices. In addition, all campaign and conflict of interest filings required by the Fair Political Practices Commission are centralized in the City Clerk's Office.

In order to qualify as a candidate for a member of the City Council, an individual must be a registered voter and a resident of the City of Avenal. Nomination petitions must contain the signatures of at least twenty (20) registered voters from the jurisdiction and must be filed with the City Clerk's Office no later than the close of the nomination period. If any incumbent does not file nomination papers within the filing period, the filing period will be extended for an additional five calendar days to allow anyone interested, except the incumbent, to file for that office.

Election Information (November 3, 2026 General Elections)

2026 General Municipal Election Announcement

For additional information regarding elections, or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Deputy City Clerk (Elections Official) at (559) 386-5766.