South San Francisco election filing deadline arrives Friday for three council districts
South San Francisco residents considering a run for local office have until 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, to submit nomination documents for the city’s Nov. 3, 2026, municipal election.
The deadline applies to four-year seats representing City Council Districts 1, 3 and 5, as well as the at-large offices of city clerk and city treasurer. The election will be consolidated with San Mateo County’s regular election.
Filing requires an appointment and signed originals
The City Clerk’s Office says appointments are required to receive and file nomination papers in person. Candidates may request some filing documents electronically after eligibility is established, but electronic forms alone do not complete the filing process.
Completed forms must be printed, signed and mailed or dropped off as hard-copy documents with original “wet” signatures. The City Clerk’s Office must receive those documents by the applicable deadline. If the required originals are not received on time, the candidate will not be considered qualified and will not appear on the ballot.
No filing fee is required for nomination papers. A separate fee may apply to candidates who choose to include a statement in the voter information guide.
Possible extension applies only in certain races
If an eligible incumbent does not file nomination documents for re-election by 5 p.m. Friday, the nomination period for that office may be extended for non-incumbent candidates until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The extension is conditional. It applies only to non-incumbents and does not give the incumbent additional time to file. The rule also does not apply when no incumbent is eligible to be elected.
South San Francisco’s Resolution No. 65-2026 sets Aug. 7 as the regular filing deadline and Aug. 12 as the later deadline for eligible non-incumbents in offices covered by the extension rule.
Candidate list remains a developing snapshot
The city’s posted candidate-status table separates nomination papers that have been issued from documents that have been filed and candidates who have been qualified. Those categories are not interchangeable.
In the city’s posted table, Buenaflor Nicolas is listed as qualified for District 3, Eduard “Eddie” Flores is listed as qualified for District 5, and Rosa Govea Acosta is listed as qualified for city clerk. The table also lists nomination papers issued to candidates in Districts 1, 3 and 5 and to city treasurer candidate Frank Risso, with blank fields where filing or qualification has not been recorded.
The table is a developing snapshot and may change as candidates return documents and the City Clerk’s Office reviews filings. Having nomination papers issued does not mean a candidate has filed or qualified for the ballot.
Who can run
City requirements say candidates must be at least 18, residents of South San Francisco and registered voters when nomination papers are issued. Council candidates must also reside and be registered to vote in the district they seek to represent.
The three council seats and the city clerk and treasurer positions each carry four-year terms. District council races represent residents of Districts 1, 3 and 5, while the clerk and treasurer races are citywide.
Prospective candidates should contact the South San Francisco City Clerk’s Office at (650) 877-8518 or all-cc@ssfca.gov to schedule an appointment. The city encourages candidates to file as early as possible so any deficiencies can be identified and corrected before the deadline.
Sources
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