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Use Palo Alto’s official pages for the specific information you need: the City Clerk’s City Council Elections page for seats, candidates, and campaign disclosures; the City’s Measure J page for the proposed 2026 tax measure; and Administrative Services’ Sales Tax Digest Reports archive for quarterly reports. These are separate tasks, so choosing the right page is the quickest way to find the relevant records.
Find City Council election dates, seats, and candidate information
Start with the Palo Alto City Clerk’s City Council Elections page. It explains the election cycle, open seats, candidate qualifications, and links to official disclosures and filing resources.
Palo Alto holds City Council elections in November of even-numbered years. Councilmembers are elected at large to staggered four-year terms, and the Mayor and Vice Mayor are selected annually by the Council. The City lists three full-term seats for the November 3, 2026 election; this is a scheduled election detail, not a statement of results.
The City Clerk page also links to candidate guidance. The City describes requirements that include Palo Alto voter registration, a nomination petition with signatures, and a Form 700 filing. If you are considering running, check the live page for current forms, appointments, and deadlines rather than relying on an old copy of a candidate guide.
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Look up campaign filings and economic-interest disclosures
For contributions and expenditures, follow the City Clerk’s links to campaign statements in the eFile Public Portal. For candidates’ Statements of Economic Interest, use the linked Form 700 portal. The Clerk’s page also points to FPPC filing schedules, which are important because filing periods and deadlines depend on the applicable election calendar.
California’s Political Reform Act requires candidates and committees to submit campaign statements by specified deadlines. Use the official portal and schedule links from the City Council Elections page to find records and determine which reporting period applies.
Understand who handles voting and election results
The City Clerk administers Palo Alto’s municipal elections, while the City contracts with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters to facilitate voting. The City’s Municipal Elections hub links to voter registration and statewide election resources. For ballot return instructions, registration, or current voting logistics, check the City and County pages because operational details can change.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallFor results, distinguish preliminary counts from certified results. In a November 12, 2024 update, the City said the County was still processing ballots and that the City Clerk would certify official results in December. For current counts, use the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters; use the City’s election updates for municipal certification and final reporting. The City’s historical example shows why an early count should not be treated as final.
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Find the 2026 Measure J tax proposal and its documents
The City Clerk’s November 3, 2026 Ballot Measure J page is the primary source for the proposed measure’s terms and formal documents. The City Council voted on June 8, 2026 to place a 0.5% (one-half-cent) local transactions and use tax on the ballot. The City estimates approximately $15.6 million in annual revenue if it is approved, and passage requires a majority vote. The measure is a proposal, not revenue already collected.
On the Measure J page, look for the adopted resolution placing the proposal on the ballot, the ordinance that would codify it if approved, the spending-guidelines resolution, the impartial analysis, and arguments for and against. The City’s Community Safety/Services Measure overview says the adopted spending guidelines identify Cubberley Community Center as a key priority. If voters approve the measure, potential uses include acquiring seven acres owned by Palo Alto Unified School District and beginning Phase 1 of the Council-adopted Cubberley Conceptual Master Plan.
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The overview also discusses existing revenue streams, including the Transient Occupancy Tax (hotel tax) and Business Tax. These are distinct from the proposed Measure J transactions and use tax; consult the official measure documents for the exact ballot wording and scope.
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Get recurring sales-tax reports by quarter
For reporting rather than ballot information, use the City’s Sales Tax Digest Reports archive. It lists quarterly digest summaries by year, including entries for 2023, 2024, 2025, and the first quarter of 2026 in the reviewed archive. Open the relevant quarter’s report to verify its period and figures instead of relying on a summary snippet or an older report.
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Choose the right official page
| What you need | Best starting point | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Council seats, candidate requirements, and campaign disclosures | City Council Elections | Election cycle, scheduled seats, candidacy guidance, and links to campaign and economic-interest filings. |
| Voting, registration, and ballot processing | Municipal Elections and the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters | City election resources and County voting administration. |
| Measure J ballot terms and supporting documents | Ballot Measure J | Ballot wording, adopted documents, impartial analysis, and arguments. |
| Quarterly sales-tax reporting | Sales Tax Digest Reports | Quarterly summaries organized by year. |
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