City Council Elections

The City of Coalinga is divided into five (5) Council districts, and each Councilmemeber is elected by the voters residing within a specific geographic Council area in incorporated areas of Coalinga. General Municipal Elections to elect Councilmembers in the City of Coalinga are held on the first Tuesday in November of each even-numbered year. 

General Election Information

The City of Coalinga will conduct a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.  The Election will be held on the same day as the statewide General Election.  There are four (4) elected positions within the City open for nominations:

  • Councilmember - District 1 - Short Term of Two (2) Years
  • Councilmember - District 2 - Full Term of Four (4) Years
  • Councilmember - District 4 - Full Term of Four (4) Years
  • City Treasurer - Full Term of Four (4) Years

District Map

GIS Map

Candidate Filing Period

The filing period for a candidate running for a City of Coalinga elected position for the November 5, 2024 election shall begin on Monday, July 15, 2024 and ends on Friday, August 9, 2024. If an incumbent does not file by the close of the filing period on August 9, 2024, the filing period shall be extended for an additional five (5) calendar days to August 14, 2024.

A candidate may pull papers to run for a City of Coalinga elected position at the following locations:

Fresno County Elections Office – Appointments Recommended
2221 Kern Street
Fresno, CA 93721

City of Coalinga, City Hall – By Appointment ONLY
155 W. Durian Avenue
Coalinga, CA 93210

Note: Please be advised that candidate residency requirements may ONLY be completed with the City Clerk of the City of Coalinga. 

Note: All original candidate filing documentation, including Nomination Papers (signatures), must be returned to the Fresno County Elections Office by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 9, 2024. 

The City Clerk will generally be available to meet with candidates by appointment ONLY between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday during the four-week filing period. Typical processing time to complete nomination paperwork with the City Clerk is approximately 1 hour. 

To schedule an appointment with the City Clerk of the City of Coalinga please email Shannon Jensen at sjensen@coalinga.com or call her at (559) 935-1533 ext. 113.

Election Calendar

Please access the Election Calendar (PDF) for important dates relating to the November 5, 2024 election.

District-Based Elections for City Councilmembers

In 2018 the City of Coalinga changed the way City Councilmembers are elected.

Prior to 2018, all Councilmembers were elected at-large, meaning all registered voters who reside in the City of Coalinga would have the opportunity to vote for all five (5) Councilmember positions. Under the new district-based election system, Councilmembers are elected by district. Councilmembers are required to live in the district they represent and will be elected only by registered voters residing in that district.

Every ten years, local governments use new census data to redraw their district lines to reflect how local populations have changed. Assembly Bill 849 (2019) requires cities and counties to engage communities in the redistricting process by holding public hearings and/or workshops and doing public outreach, including to non English-speaking communities.

The City of Coalinga completed the required redistricting process and subsequently updated City Council district boundary lines in April 2022. 

City Council Candidate Requirements

The Fresno County Elections Office has prepared a nominations packet containing several documents required to be completed and submitted prior to the close of the filing period. In additional to these nomination papers, candidates will also be required to comply with the City of Coalinga’s City Council District Residency Policy. The Policy was enacted to help ensure City Councilmember candidates and sitting City Councilmembers reside in the district they will or do represent.

In order to qualify as a candidate for the City of Coalinga City Council, and have your name appear on the November 5, 2024 ballot, the following additional documentation shall be required:

  • PG&E / City of Coalinga Utility Bill
  • Proof of Home ownership / Rental Property
  • Proof of Motor Vehicle Registration
  • Affidavit

For detailed information regarding the requirements listed, please refer to pages 3 and 4 of the City Council District Residency Policy (PDF).

Failure to provide any of the above required documents will disqualify a candidate from meeting the City of Coalinga District Residency Policy Requirements and having their name appear on the November 5, 2024 election ballot.

Note: Please be advised candidate residency requirements may ONLY be completed with the City Clerk of the City of Coalinga.