Measure R

Riverside City Council and Mayoral Elections

2020—CITY OF RIVERSIDE—Would amend the Charter of the City of Riverside to consolidate: Mayor elections with the statewide primary and general election; City Council elections beginning in 2022 with the statewide primary and general election; and Mayor and City Council runoff elections with the statewide general election, in order to comply with state law requirements. Measure R requires simple majority (50% + 1) to pass.

Fiscal Impact: No fiscal impact for Measure R has been submitted.

Next Riverside County Measure: Measure S

See Endorsements for Measure R
In Depth:

City Council

Currently, the Riverside City Charter provides that general municipal elections for members of the City Council and for other purposes as the City Council may prescribe are to be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in June of each odd-numbered year. Furthermore, the Riverside City Charter currently provides that a special run-off election for all elected offices be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November of the same year.

Measure R would amend the Riverside City Charter so that, beginning in 2022, general municipal elections for members of the City Council and for other purposes as the City Council may prescribe are held on the same day as the statewide election, consistent with the primary election date set by the State. Furthermore, this Measure would require a June 8, 2021 election for Councilmembers to represent Wards 2, 4, and 6, for five-year terms until 2026, in order to coincide with the statewide election date. Beginning in 2026 and thereafter, all Councilmembers’ terms would revert to four years. In addition, Measure R would amend the Riverside City Charter to require that a special run-off election for all elected offices be held on the same days as the statewide election of the same year, consistent with the general election date set by the State. This measure would create one exception for the June 8, 2021 election, which shall hold a special run-off election, if necessary, on November 2, 2021.

Mayor

Currently, the Riverside City Charter provides that general municipal elections for Mayor are to be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in June of United States Presidential election years.

Measure R would amend the Riverside City Charter so that general municipal elections for Mayor are held the same day as the statewide election, consistent with the primary election date set by the State, in United States Presidential election years.

Measure R does not result in the creation of any new City powers.

Source: City Attorney's Impartial Analysis of Measure R

Official Resources

Riverside County Elections Office

City of Riverside Elections

Nonpartisan Analysis

Riverside County, California ballot measures. Ballotpedia.