Background
The San Mateo City Council went through a robust community-engagement process in 2021 to transition to district elections. Residents will continue to be represented by the entire Council, however there are two primary changes in Council elections by district:
- Voters will only vote for 1 Council member, instead of all 5
- Future Council members must live in the district they represent
For historical information about the transition process, visit the Background on Transition to District Elections web page.
What Prompted the Change To District Elections?
In May 2021, the City received a certified letter from attorney Scott J. Rafferty asserting that the City’s current at-large council member electoral system may violate the California Voting Rights Act (the “CVRA”) (Elections Code §§ 14025-14032) and stating that the City should voluntarily change to a district-based election system for electing City Council Members. The City underwent a months-long community engagement initiative to create the new District Elections Map, which was officially adopted in November 2021.