Visit the Alameda County Election website for general voter information, including registering to vote, polling hours and locations, and voting by mail.

Mayor, City Council, and Auditor are decided through ranked choice voting

The positions of Mayor, City Council, and Auditor are decided through ranked choice voting. In these races, voters can (but aren’t required to) indicate their first, second, third, fourth, and fifth choice for an office. With ranked choice voting, the candidate who receives a majority of votes will be declared the winner.

Rent Stabilization Board and School Board are decided through plurality vote

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Commissioners and School Board Directors are decided through a plurality vote. With a plurality vote, the candidates who receive the highest number of votes will be declared the winner. In these races there are typically multiple candidates elected at each election.

Ballot measure vote thresholds

Bond measures and certain other special taxes generally require a 2/3 majority vote. Initiatives, referendum measures, general taxes, and charter amendments require a simple majority vote.

Voter Resource Guide

Election FAQs

1. When do we get official election results?

   The Alameda County Registrar of Voters must certify the election results by the 30th day after the election. Please contact the Alameda County Registrar of Voters at 510-267-8683 or www.acgov.org/rov/current.htm

   for up to date results. The City Council will certify the results and the new members will be sworn in at the next regular council meeting after the Registrar certifies the election.

2. When do all the campaign signs come down?

   Signs for candidates and ballot measures are required to be removed 15 days after Election Day. Candidates and committees may face fines if signs are not removed from public right-of-ways, which includes medians, sidewalks, parks, utility boxes and poles. Residents who see political signs on public property in Berkeley, should report sign locations to the campaign committees, who are responsible for taking them down. If the phone number is not listed, or you would like the contact information for one of the ballot measure committees, please call the City Clerk Department at 510-981-6900.

3. What does it take to win a Council seat?

   Under the Ranked-Choice Voting system, a candidate for Mayor, Auditor, or City Council must receive a majority of votes to be elected.

4. How does the Rent Board election work?

   Rent Board Commissioners are elected by a plurality vote. The terms are four years.

5. How does the School Board election work?

   School Board Directors are elected by a plurality vote. The terms are four years.

6. What does it take for a ballot measure to pass?

   Bond measures and certain other special taxes generally require a 2/3 majority vote. Initiatives, referendum measures, and charter amendments require a simple majority vote.

   Voter Information

   On Election Day, polls are open from 7am - 8pm. Polling Places may change from election to election - be sure to verify your polling location by checking the Voter Pamphlet/Sample Ballot you received in the mail or checking online with the Registrar of Voters online lookup tool.

   Vote-by-Mail voters may drop off their voted vote-by-mail ballot in any of the six ballot boxes at City facilities. The drop off boxes are available 24-hours a day and will be in service for every election. The Alameda County Registrar of Voters will retrieve the Vote-by-Mail ballots daily, ending at 8:00 pm on Election Night. No postage is necessary for ballots returned in the drop box. Voters may also drop off their vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in Alameda County between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm on Election Day. Vote-by-Mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the Registrar of Voters office no later than three days after Election Day.

   These six drop boxes are the only official drop boxes in Berkeley:

   • Berkeley Civic Center Building, 2180 Milvia
   • University of California Berkeley, between Sather Gate and Architects & Engineers Building
   • Frances Albrier Recreation Center, 2800 Park
   • Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue
   • North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda

   • West Branch Library, 1125 University

     Make sure your vote is counted:

   • Use the return envelope provided
   • Sign the back of your envelope

   • Only use a drop box in the county in which you are registered to vote

     Accessible Voting Locations

     In certain elections, you can also turn in ballots at any of 100 Alameda County Accessible Voting Locations (AVLs) that are provided. The number and location of AVLs may change in each election. Please confirm the hours and location by contacting the Registrar of Voters.

     Track my ballot

     Alameda County has an online tool for tracking your ballot's progress. Sign up at Track My Ballot to get notifications by email, text, or phone when your ballot is mailed, received, and counted. The tool is available in nine languages. https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/

     Call the Registrar of Voters at 510-267-8683 for the following questions:

   • Registration Status (also available at http://www.acgov.org/rov/)
   • Polling Place Location (also available at http://www.acgov.org/rov/)
   • Early Voting at the Registrar of Voters Office
   • Vote-by-Mail Questions
   • Electioneering Issues
   • Problems at the Polling Place

Helpful Links

County Registrar of Voters - http://www.acgov.org/rov

Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) - http://www.fppc.ca.gov/ Federal Election Commission - http://www.fec.gov/

League of Women Voters - https://lwvc.org/tags/voters-edge California Secretary of State - http://www.ss.ca.gov/

Easy Voter Guide - http://www.easyvoter.org/

Ballot drop box map (Alameda County Registrar of Voters) Accessible Voting Locations (Alameda County Registrar of Voters) Track my ballot https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/

If you have any questions about the information presented on this page, please contact the Berkeley City Clerk Department at elections@berkeleyca.gov or (510) 981-6908.