Nomination Period Opens for Simi Valley and Moorpark Mayor, City Council and Local School and Park District Races
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Ventura County opened the nomination period Monday for local offices on the November 3, 2026 ballot, including races for mayor and city council in Simi Valley and Moorpark.
The filing window runs from July 13 through August 7, according to County Clerk-Recorder Michelle Ascencion. If an incumbent does not file by the August 7 deadline, the period extends five days to August 12. Newly created district seats do not qualify for the extension because they have no incumbent.
Simi Valley voters will see races for mayor, two full-term city council seats in Districts 2 and 4, and one short-term seat in District 1. Moorpark has two council seats for Districts 1 and 3 and the mayor's at-large seat on the ballot. Anyone interested in running must obtain nomination papers from their city clerk's office.
The November ballot also includes local school board races. Simi Valley Unified School District has two governing board seats up for grabs in Areas D and E. Candidates for those positions must file with the Ventura County Elections Division at 800 S. Victoria Avenue in Ventura.
The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District is holding elections for three director seats. Divisions 1 and 2 are full-term positions, while Division 3 is a short-term seat. Those candidates also file with the county elections office. Moorpark Unified School Board has two seats up for election in Areas 1 and 3.
"The races that most directly affect their own Ventura County community are city, school, and special district offices," Ascencion said in a statement. "We encourage anyone interested in running for an eligible office to watch filing deadlines closely, so they don't miss the opportunity to enter the race."
All ten cities in Ventura County have elections scheduled for November. The county's three community college districts, fifteen unified and elementary school districts, and more than twenty special districts are also holding elections.
State and federal races will appear on the same ballot. Those contests feature the top two finishers from the June 2 primary, including races for governor, U.S. House seats and state assembly positions.
The county elections office is scheduling appointments with candidates who want to file. Prospective candidates can download the filing guide at vote.venturacounty.gov or call 805-654-2664.
Filing requirements vary by office. City candidates must meet qualifications set by their city clerk. School and special district candidates work directly with the county elections division.
The nomination period applies only to local offices. Federal and state races were determined by the June primary and will proceed to the November runoff automatically.
Ventura County has not held an election with this many local races since redistricting created new city council and school board boundaries. Some seats marked as newly-formed districts will not have the extended filing period because no sitting officeholder exists for those positions.
Voter registration for the November 3 election continues through October 20. Residents can register online at vote.venturacounty.gov or through the California Secretary of State's website.
To vote at a polling place on Election Day or to receive a ballot in the mail, residents must register no less than 15 days before the election. After the 15-day deadline, eligible voters who have not registered may still vote by registering and casting a provisional ballot at the Ventura County Elections Division.
Voters must re-register if they have moved, changed their name, or wish to change their political party preference. To change a mailing address, sign up to vote by mail, or cancel a registration, residents should submit an Update Form.
The county elections office is located in the Hall of Administration at 800 S. Victoria Avenue in Ventura. Office hours and appointments are available by calling 805-654-2664 or emailing elections@venturacounty.gov.
