New for 2022 

At the Nov. 8, 2022 General Election, Belmont voters elected Councilmembers by district, and an At-large Mayor for the first time.  

On April 12, 2022, Belmont City Council adopted Resolution 2022-027 identifying election district boundaries 1 though 4 and determined that Councilmembers will be elected from Districts 1 and 3 in the November 2022 general election as well as an At-large Mayor for a two-year term. Districts 2 and 4 will hold elections in November 2024.

The Candidate Filing period ran from July 18 to Aug. 12, 2022. On Aug. 19, 2022, Belmont announced its candidates in its Weekly ENewsletter, followed by a press release on Aug. 23, 2022. 

2022 Belmont Ballot

To find the candidates for Belmont council or At-large Mayor and details about Measure K, visit this page.

Only Belmont registered voters may run for At-large Mayor. Belmont voter registration and residency in Districts 1 or 3 are required to be a Councilmember candidate in their respective Districts. If you are eligible and wish to be considered, please follow these steps:

1. Make an appointment with Belmont's City Clerk. Phone: (650) 595-7413 or email: cclerk@belmont.gov. NOTE: Nomination papers must be picked up in person by the prospective candidate (not a candidate's representative) from the City Clerk in Suite 330 at City Hall, One Twin Pines Lane, Belmont, CA, during regular business hours. Potential candidates must make an appointment to allow for adequate time to be issued the nomination packet.
   
   
2. Complete and submit your Declaration of Candidacy and Nomination papers between July 18 - Aug. 12, 2022.

Belmont will announce nominees for District 1 and 3 Councilmembers, and At-large Mayor on Aug. 19, 2022.  

The City of Belmont will transition from at-large elections to district elections by November of 2022. This process will require participation from the public to create election districts that are balanced in size and protect the interest of the communities within those districts. U.S. Census Bureau Data from 2020, the most recent census, will be used during this process to ensure equal representation by each elected official.

The change will bring the city into compliance with the California Voting Rights Act with the creation of four election districts, and a directly elected Mayor-at-Large. 

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Ordinance Codifying district-based Elections Introduced 

On April 12, 2022, the Belmont City Council introduced an ordinance codifying district-based elections, establishing the sequence of councilmember elections by-districts, establishing the office of mayor and setting the term of office for the mayor and initial election, and reorganizing the city code to incorporate the change in method of council elections.

Councilmembers will be elected from districts 1 and 3 in November 2022 and districts 2 and 4 in November 2024. The district boundaries and the numbering of districts is shown on a map adopted by City Council Resolution 2022-027.

The initial election for mayor will be in November 2022. The mayor will have a 2-year term of office.

Staff Report
Ordinance
Resolution 
Meeting Video

Final District Map

Final Map web link 

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Final Map Selected

On March 22, 2022, the Belmont City Council adopted an ordinance changing the method of electing residents to the city council from at-large to by-district with an elected mayor; this change is made in compliance with the California Voting Rights Act of 2001. The ordinance states that the geographic area of city will be divided into four council districts the boundaries of which the council will determine by resolution at the April 12, 2022 regular meeting.

The Council determined the following sequencing for district elections for adoption by resolution at the April 12, 2022 regular Council Meeting.  

November 2022 Election
District 1
District 3

November 2024 Election
Districts 2
Districts 4

The mayor will be first elected in November 2022.

Review the districts and the selected map (PDF): Final Map

Final Map web link 

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Final District Elections Map Selection

After hearing a robust community outreach campaign, the City Council at the March 8, 2022  public hearing selected two map options for final consideration.  Once the Council selects the final map on March 22, 2022 they will determine the sequence of elections. 

Draft Plan 1

web view map

Draft Plan 2

web view map

Please provide comments on the proposed maps to: publiccomment@belmont.gov 

Potential sequence of elections:

Option 1 – Pick two of the four districts to hold elections and elect the mayor in November 2022

November 2022: Districts C and D; mayor

November 2024: Districts A and B; mayor

Or

November 2022: Districts B and D; mayor

November 2024: Districts A and C; mayor

Option 2 - Pick three of the four districts to hold elections and elect the mayor in November 2024

November 2022: Districts B, C, D

November 2024: District A; mayor

Background

On July 30, 2021 the City received a letter from Kevin Shenkman, of the law firm Shenkman & Hughes, alleging that the City's at-large election system violated the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (CVRA)   on behalf of Southwest Voter Registration Education Project alleging violation of California Voting Rights Act demanding the city change to its at-large method of electing councilmembers.

The CVRA, was passed in 2002, prohibits at-large elections when it can be shown that they impair the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of their choice or to influence elections in a significant way.  The law was passed in part due to a lack of success by plaintiffs utilizing the CVRA's federal counterpart, the Federal Voting Rights Act, to show that "racially polarizing voting" exists in the jurisdiction; they do not need to show any intent of voters or City officials to discriminate against the underrepresented class.  They also do not need to prove that changing to district elections would increase representation on the elected body in question.  

On November 9, 2021 the Council adopted a resolution outlining the city’s intention to transition from at-large to district-based elections with a directly elected mayor, specifying the steps to facilitate the transition, and estimating the timeframe for doing so. To assist with the transition, the City hired Redistricting Partners, a firm that specializes in drawing district lines for jurisdictions. 

Process  

Starting in January 2022 the City will be holding public hearings and workshops for community input. We encourage you to participate in this process.

Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the City will be holding a series of hybrid virtual and outdoor public meetings to invite the community to provide feedback, share community interests and suggestions for district lines in the City of Belmont.

The purpose of these hearings is to invite the community into the transition process, answer questions, and give the public an opportunity to raise concerns and provide feedback.  The public is invited to provide input regarding their community of interest, the composition of the districts, the criteria to be used when determining the composition of districts, and other factors that should go into the drawing of maps of single-member voting districts. An online tool will be made available that will enable the public to craft their own maps defining their community of interest, and their preferred district boundaries.

The City will reach out to local media and other communication tools to publicize the districting process. The city and staff will make a good faith effort to notify community groups of various kinds about the districting process.

Public hearings will be provided in applicable languages if residents submit a request in advance. The City will notify the public about districting hearings, post maps online before adoption, and create a dedicated web page for all relevant information about the districting process.

To request accommodations related to participation in the meeting, to receive additional information about by-district elections, or to ask questions, interested persons may contact publiccomment@belmont.gov Telephone: (650) 595-7414. This webpage will be updated as the process progresses. 

Legal

• California Voting Rights Act 
• California Voting Rights Act “Safe Harbor” provision 
• FAIR MAPS Act
• Federal Voting Rights Act
• Shenkman Letter Dated July 30, 2021

Meetings

November 2, 2021
Agenda
Minutes
Staff Report
Meeting Video

November 9, 2021
Agenda
Minutes
Staff Report
Resolution 
Meeting Video 

January 11, 2021
Agenda
Minutes
Staff Report
Presentation
Meeting Video 

January 25, 2022
Agenda
Minutes
Staff Report
Presentation
Meeting Video

February 8, 2022
Agenda 
Minutes
Staff Report
Presentation 
Meeting Video 

WORKSHOP February 19, 2022
Presentation

February 22 , 2022
Agenda
Minutes
Staff Report
Presentation
Meeting Video 

March 8, 2022
Special meeting - Map discussion at 5:30 pm,
sequencing and Mayor at Large discussion 7:30 pm
Agenda
Staff Report
Presentation
Meeting Video 5:30 PM
Meeting Video 7:00 PM

March 22, 2022
Map and Ordinance Adopted
Agenda 
Staff Report 
Presentation
Meeting Video

April 12, 2022
Agenda
Staff Report
Ordinance
Resolution 
Meeting Video

 

Public Hearing Schedule  

• January 11, 2022 7:30 p.m. (Districting)
• January 25, 2022 (Process)
• February 8, 2022 (Draft Map Presentation)
• February 22, 2022 (Second Draft Map Presentation)
• March 8, 2022 (Special meeting - Map discussion at 5:30 pm, sequencing and Mayor at Large discussion 7:30 pm  ) 

Outreach Presentation

• February 19, 2022 10 a.m. Twin Pines Senior Center 
  Presentation 

Pop-Up Informational Booths

Districting is the process of creating election areas for the selection of councilmembers. Districts are built around communities, meant to empower local residents in selecting their councilmember.  In order to ensure elections are fair, each councilmember will represent about the same number of constituents. In Belmont, the City Council will be responsible for drawing council districts with help from the community. The data for districting will be the 2020 Decennial Census.

Districting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped into a district for purposes of electing a councilmember. The City Council will seek input in selecting the next district map based on the communities within Belmont, and how they can be empowered through the process. Every resident will have an opportunity to share with the City Council how they think district boundaries should be drawn to best represent their community.

Belmont used a “at-large” format which allowed councilmembers to live in any part of the city and they were all selected in citywide elections.  California has moved away from these kinds of elections in municipal government with the goal of ensuring elected officials are distributed within the community, and smaller groups of residents can be assured of having a strong voice in the election of their local representative.

Following state and federal laws, and districting best practices, boundaries will be adopted using the following criteria:

1. Each district will be comprised of one area – and all connected so it makes sense to residents.

2. The Federal Voting Rights Act will be followed to ensure there is no discrimination or weakening of communities protected by the Act.

3. Local neighborhoods and communities will be respected in a manner that minimizes its division and empowers its residents.

4. The district lines will follow identifiable boundaries that follow natural or artificial barriers (rivers, streets, highways, rail lines, etc.)

5. Boundaries will not be drawn with the interests of councilmember or candidate residences or for purposes of favoring or discriminating against a political party.

The City will reach out to local media to publicize the districting process as well as issue updates and announcements in its Weekly ENews. The city and staff will make a good faith effort to notify community groups of various kinds about the districting process.

Aug. 23, 2022 - News Release - emailed to those who opt in for news
Aug. 19, 2022 - Weekly ENews - emailed to those who opt in for regular updates
July 5, 2022 - Districting Flyer - mailed to all addresses in Zip Code: 94002

Public hearings will be provided in applicable languages if residents submit a request in advance. The City will notify the public about districting hearings, post maps online before adoption, and create a dedicated web page for all relevant information about the districting process.

 

Census Data - The census is a snapshot of the population once every decade based on where each resident resides on April 1st. The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a non‐partisan government agency. In 2020, each home in the United States received an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire online, by phone, or by mail.

The census data is generally thought of as the counts of population, but it also includes the geographies in which the data is provided. These begin with small geographic units which have population, then are built up in a hierarchical fashion. Building up from the smallest unit, the shapes start with census blocks, then those are combined to make block groups, which are combined to make Tracts.

Census blocks are the basic building blocks of all geographic boundaries. They are the smallest level of geography where census data is available, including total population, age, sex and race. They are often the size of a city block, but in an unpopulated are they can encompass many square miles. In California there were over 700,000 blocks, but for 2021 many of the blocks with no population were consolidated, with the final 2021 file having just over 500,000 blocks.

Census block groups are the next level above census blocks in the geographic hierarchy. A block group consists multiple blocks and can average around 1,500 residents. The block group is the smallest geographic area where American Community Survey data is made available.

Census tracts are the next level above bock groups. Census tracts have an average population of around 4,000 people. Some census data comes in the Tract level, such as household demographics.