Want to run for elected office?
Filing period opens for candidates in November election
Candidates looking to run for elected seats in this November’s election can file to run starting Monday through Aug. 7.
Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, candidates will need to schedule an appointment with the Humboldt County Elections Office to pick up their filing papers. During their appointment, candidates will also be able to take their oath of office to officially declare candidacy.
As in a typical election year, incumbents will be allowed an additional five-day period — through Aug. 12 — to declare candidacy.
Multiple seats on the Eureka City Council will be open this November, including the one belonging to Heidi Messner, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2018.
Earlier this year, Councilmember Austin Allison announced he would not re-run for his seat, citing time constraints.
Three seats will be open on the Arcata City Council. Susan Ornelas resigned from her seat earlier this year after previously announcing she would not seek re-election.
Following an executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom, the fall election will be predominantly mail-in voting with ballots sent to all registered voters.
Kelly Sanders, the county’s election clerk, said Monday that over 68% of the county’s residents already vote by mail. In the March election, Sanders’ office began using a new machine that rapidly verifies signatures on ballots — a technology she said will speed up the vote-counting process under the new format.
Voters will not need to reregister in order to receive ballots through the mail.
“The only reason you would need to re-register is if you had a change in your physical address or mailing address, of if you wanted to change your political party — or get a name change,” Sanders said.
The elections office is already preparing to staff voter assistance centers around the county. Staff will also set up drop-boxes throughout the county ahead of Election Day, so residents can physically place their votes at a location instead of sending their ballots through postage.