The Record · Public Information
Two Ways to Serve Burbank in 2026
Pick your path. The School Board is the easy way in. The City Council is the bigger, citywide race. Here is each one, start to finish.
As early as July 13, 2026, walk in and declare.
To get on the ballot you go in person to the county elections office and fill out one short form — the Declaration of Candidacy. That’s the whole first step, and you can do it the very first day: July 13.
12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650
2nd Floor, Room 2013 · Mon–Fri, 8 AM–5 PM Open in Maps →
Read the actual law — California Elections Code § 10510 (click to open)
California Elections Code § 10510 — Declaration of Candidacy for district offices (this includes school district governing board members).
(a) Forms for declarations of candidacy for all district offices shall be obtained from the office of the county elections official. The county elections official may, for convenience or necessity, authorize the district secretary to issue declarations of candidacy. The forms shall first be available on the 113th day prior to the general district election and shall be filed not later than 5 p.m. on the 88th day prior to the general district election in the office of the county elections official during regular office hours or may be filed by certified mail so that the forms reach the office of the county election official no later than the deadline for filing in that office. The county elections official shall record the date of filing upon the first page of each declaration of candidacy filed pursuant to this section. No candidate shall withdraw his or her declaration of candidacy after 5 p.m. on the 88th day prior to the general district election.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person shall not file nomination papers for more than one district office or term of office for the same district at the same election.
(c) On request of the district secretary, the county elections official shall provide the secretary with a copy of each declaration of candidacy filed pursuant to this section.
In plain English: the form comes from the county elections office (the address above). It becomes available the 113th day before the election — July 13, 2026 — and must be filed by 5 PM on the 88th day before — August 7, 2026. That is your window. No fee or signatures are imposed by this section for a school board seat.
What it takes
- No signatures — none to collect
- No filing fee — nothing to pay
- Just a short Declaration of Candidacy
- Registered Burbank voter, 18+
- Live in the area you run for (3 or 4)
Key deadlines
All dates 2026.
Who to contact
L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650
2nd Floor, Room 2013 · Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM
Forms & where to file
- Declaration of Candidacy — obtained from and signed in person at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk during the July 13 – Aug 7 nomination period (no fee, no signatures). Filing process & forms: L.A. County Candidate Handbook (PDF) →
- Ballot Designation Worksheet — file it with your Declaration to get your 3-word ballot title under your name (e.g. “Parent / Small-Business Owner”). Skip it and no title prints.
- Form 700 (Statement of Economic Interests) — download / e-file →
It does not take a lot of money to run for school board — and you can win. Because you only run in your own neighborhood (Area 3 or 4), a focused, local campaign is very doable. This is the most accessible way to step up and serve.
You can run in — and vote for — only the BUSD trustee area where you live. Areas 3 and 4 are on the 2026 ballot. There is no minimum length of residency: just be a current resident and registered voter of your area.
Based on the adopted Map 104 boundaries. For the official record, confirm with the L.A. County Registrar.
Local school-district board candidates have no signature requirement and no filing fee. The declaration of candidacy is governed by California Elections Code § 10510 (full text in Step 1 above). Confirm details with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
What it takes
- Burbank resident at least 29 days
- Registered Burbank voter, 18+
- 50 to 100 voter signatures
- $25 filing fee
Key deadlines
Same dates for City Clerk & City Treasurer. All 2026.
Who to contact
Burbank City Clerk’s Office
275 E. Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA 91502
Phone: (818) 238-5851
cityclerks@burbankca.gov
Forms & where to file
- Form 501 — Candidate Intention. File this FIRST, before you raise or spend a dollar. Download Form 501 (PDF) →
- Nomination Papers — pulled in person at the City Clerk by appointment (50–100 voter signatures, $25 fee), July 13 – Aug 7.
- Form 700 (Statement of Economic Interests) — download / e-file →
- Campaign finance: under $2,000 → Form 470 (short form). $2,000+ → Form 410 + Form 460.
- Full walkthrough: City of Burbank — How to Run for City Office (PDF) →
Getting on the ballot is inexpensive. Winning is the bigger job: because you have to reach every voter — roughly 72,000 of them — a serious council run usually means mailers, signs, and outreach across the whole city. The filing bar is low; the campaign is the work. (Stay under $2,000 and your paperwork is a single short form.)
City requirements per the Burbank City Clerk’s “How to Run for City Office” guide (Elections Code 2101; Burbank Muni Code 2-3-111, 122, 125).
Voter Dates — for Everyone
- October 5, 2026Ballots mailed.County elections officials begin mailing vote-by-mail ballots.
- October 19, 2026Registration deadline.Last day to register online or by mail for the general election.
- October 20 – Nov 3, 2026Same-day registration.Conditional voter registration is available during this period.
- October 24, 2026Vote centers open.Voter’s Choice Act counties begin opening vote centers.
- November 3, 2026Election Day.Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Official Sources
Republican Candidates: We Would Like to Hear From You
Are you a Republican running for Burbank School Board, City Council, City Clerk, or City Treasurer — or thinking about it? If you would like to be considered for the Burbank Republican Party’s support, we would be glad to talk. Tell us who you are and what you are running for.