Merced elections deadline looms

The deadline to file for a run at an elected seat in Merced County is 5 p.m. Friday.

Prospective candidates still have time to pull papers and commit to the Nov. 7 ballot, said David Sullivan, assistant registrar of voters for Merced County.

Candidates running for city council seats are required to get 20 nomination signatures from people living in the represented area before filing elections paperwork, he noted, but those interested in school or special districts need no signatures to file.

For the elected offices in which no incumbent files to run by Friday, the deadline would be extended to 5 p.m. Aug. 17.

There is no fee to file, he said, but there is a fee if candidates want a candidate statement placed on sample ballots. That’s between $425 and $825 depending on the particular district and contest.

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 24, Sullivan said, and sample ballots will go out to voters in October.

Mayoral seats are open in Merced, Los Banos, Gustine, Livingston and Dos Palos. Mayors serve two-year terms in each of the cities except Dos Palos, which has a four-year term.

The five cities and Atwater are all set to have at least one city council member elected this year.

The November vote will mark the first time Merced and Los Banos will hold district elections for council seats. The other cities’ council seats are selected at-large, meaning voting is done across the cities rather than in defined districts.

Because those districts are new, Sullivan said, they do not have incumbents. So the deadlines for council seats in Merced and Los Banos are on Friday.

The Atwater and Livingston city clerk and treasurer offices also are up for election.

More than 20 school districts have elections for governing board spots, and more than a dozen special districts are also up for election. Special districts include water district and community service boards.

For a candidate’s guide, go to www.mercedelections.com.

For more information, call the Merced County Elections Office, 209-385-7541.

This story was originally published August 10, 2016 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Merced elections deadline looms."