Albany Municipal Code Ch. V Elections

General Municipal Elections shall be held in the City to coincide with the State General Election.

Except to the extent otherwise provided by ordinance hereinafter enacted, all elections shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Elections Code of the State of California, as the same now exists or hereafter be amended, for the holding of elections in cities so far as the same are not in conflict with this Charter. (Amended, ratified, August 7, 1952; April 13, 1976; November 8, 1994)

A vacancy in any elective office, other than that of an elective member of the Board of Education, from whatever cause arising, shall be filled by appointment by the Council; such appointee to hold office until the next feasible general municipal election, when a successor shall be chosen by the electors for the unexpired term; provided, that if the Council fails to agree or for any other reason does not fill such vacancy within sixty (60) days after the same occurs, then such vacancy shall be filled by the Mayor; provided, however, that if for any reason the seats of a majority of the Council shall become vacant, then the City Clerk shall call a special election at once to fill the vacancies for the unexpired terms, and the same shall be conducted substantially in the manner provided for general municipal elections.

If any officer of the City shall remove from the City or absent themselves therefrom for more than sixty days consecutively without the permission of the Council, or shall fail to qualify, or shall resign, their office shall thereupon become vacant.

The Council shall by ordinance establish procedures for filling a vacancy by appointment. (Amended, ratified November 8, 2016)

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the State Elections Code or other State or local law, persons 16 years old and above, who otherwise meet all qualifications for voter registration under State law other than those provisions that address age, and who are duly registered to vote with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters, may vote in City of Albany elections for elected officials and ballot measures. Implementation of this Section shall be postponed until the City Council, by ordinance or resolution, finds that the Alameda County Registrar of Voters can feasibly accommodate a City election that includes persons 16 and 17 years old as electors at a cost-effective price for the service. Once the City Council makes such finding, this Section shall be implemented at the next scheduled general or special municipal election and all municipal elections held thereafter shall include electors 16 years old and above as provided in this Section.

(b) This Section only authorizes qualifying persons 16 years old and above to vote in municipal elections. Nothing in this Section shall authorize persons under the age of 18 years old at the time of election to be elected to office as a member of the City Council.

(Amended November 5, 2024)