The City of Encinitas says the nomination period began July 13. Candidates who intend to enter the city’s 2026 election must complete the filing process by the regular deadline unless a conditional extension applies to their race.

Offices and terms involved

The city identifies the mayor and four district council seats as its elected positions. For the November 2026 election, the municipal election page identifies one mayoral seat and council representation for District 3. The page also includes information about a District 4 vacancy term.

That District 4 information should be read cautiously. The city’s description includes vacancy and term details, but the approved election information does not establish the final candidate field or settle how the race will appear after filing closes.

The city page lists Mayor Bruce Ehlers, Councilmember Joy Lyndes and Councilmember Marco San Antonio among officials whose terms expire in November 2026. Listing an expiring term does not mean the officeholder has filed for re-election, nor does it establish that a race will be contested.

How the possible extension works

Friday’s deadline may not close every filing window in every race. If an incumbent does not file, the filing period for non-incumbent candidates in that race may extend through Wednesday, August 12, at 5:30 p.m.

The extension is conditional and cannot yet be assigned to a specific mayoral or council race based on the approved city information. Its availability depends on whether an incumbent files by the regular August 7 deadline.

That distinction matters for the shape of the ballot. A race covered by the extension rule could see additional non-incumbent filings after Friday, while races without the qualifying circumstance would remain closed at 4:30 p.m. August 7.

Final candidate list is still pending

The indexed official election page did not yet provide a final candidate list. Candidates therefore should not be described as qualified solely because the filing period is open or because their names appear alongside terms that expire in November 2026.

The next known step is the close of regular filing at 4:30 p.m. Friday. After that deadline, the city’s election information can show whether the conditions for an August 12 extension apply to any race. The possible extension deadline is 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 12.

Encinitas’ general municipal election remains scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Until filing closes and any applicable extension is resolved, the city’s mayoral and council fields remain incomplete. For voters, the immediate consequence is that the list of potential candidates may become clearer after Friday, while some uncertainty could continue into the following week.

The regular filing deadline is Friday, August 7, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. The election will include one citywide mayoral race and council races for Districts 3 and 4.

What will be on the ballot

Encinitas voters will elect one mayor to a full two-year term ending in November 2028. Voters in Council Districts 3 and 4 will each elect one council member to a full four-year term ending in November 2030.

The mayoral contest is citywide. The council contests are district-based, so residents should confirm whether their address is in District 3 or District 4 before evaluating the relevant race. The city provides district map and address information for that purpose.

Who can file

Mayor candidates must be residents of Encinitas and registered voters in the city when their nomination papers are issued.

Council candidates must live in, and be registered voters in, the district they seek to represent when nomination papers are issued. That means a person cannot qualify for a District 3 or District 4 contest based only on general Encinitas residency.

How the deadline works

The filing period opened July 13 and runs through the city’s August 7 deadline. If the incumbent for the mayoral seat, District 3, or District 4 does not file by 4:30 p.m. on August 7, the deadline for that specific office may be extended for non-incumbent candidates only. In that case, the conditional extension would run through Wednesday, August 12, at 5:30 p.m.

The August 12 extension is not automatic for every race. It depends on whether the incumbent for that particular office fails to file by the regular deadline, and it does not extend the deadline for an incumbent candidate.

Where candidates should start

Nomination papers are obtained from and returned to the Encinitas City Clerk by appointment. The city lists appointment hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on open Fridays during the filing period.

Potential candidates can contact City Clerk Pete Weichers at 760-633-2601 or cityclerk@encinitasca.gov to arrange an appointment and ask about the filing process.

The next important update will come after the August 7 deadline, when the city’s official candidate information and any office-specific extension notices should clarify which races are contested and whether non-incumbent candidates receive additional time.

Sources

• City of Encinitas Municipal Elections page
• San Diego County Registrar of Voters candidate filing page

High surf advisory in effect

A high surf advisory is in place starting late Friday morning and continuing through early Sunday. West-facing beaches are expected to see larger sets, stronger rip currents, and localized beach erosion.

City officials are urging caution near coastal bluffs and jetties, especially during high tide cycles. Beachgoers are advised to keep a safe distance from the water’s edge and avoid climbing on rocks.

Upcoming city service outages

The city’s online Customer Self Service system will be offline from the afternoon of February 12 through the morning of February 17. During that window, residents will not be able to submit records requests, uploads, or certain permit-related tasks online.

City staff recommend completing time-sensitive requests before the outage or planning to submit them once systems are restored.

City Hall closure for Presidents’ Day

Encinitas City Hall will be closed on Monday, February 16, in observance of Presidents’ Day. Regular hours are scheduled to resume Tuesday morning.

Some counter services already operate on alternating Friday schedules, so residents are encouraged to double-check hours before heading in.

Parking rules near crosswalks still a focus

The city continues its local rollout of California’s daylighting law, which restricts parking within 20 feet of crosswalks to improve visibility and pedestrian safety. Crews are adjusting curbs and signage at select intersections.

Drivers are reminded that painted curbs are not required for enforcement, and violations can result in citations.

Sources

• https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Encinitas
• https://www.encinitasca.gov/government/departments/development-services
• https://www.encinitasca.gov/government/departments/engineering/traffic-engineering/ab-413-daylighting-law