Court-Ordered November 3, 2026 City of Newport Beach Municipal Election Timeline
| Date | Action | Document |
|---|---|---|
| April 30, 2026 | Newport Beach City Clerk (NBCC) submitted to Orange County Registrar of Voters (OCROV) the City Council-adopted resolutions calling the municipal elections for one measure and requesting consolidation with the 2026 General Election. | Received Resolutions email from L Shumway NBCC Resolution 2025-81 Resolution 2025-82 Resolution 2025-83 |
| June 16, 2026 | NBCC submitted to OCROV the City Council-adopted resolutions calling the municipal elections for city offices and requesting consolidation with the 2026 General Election. | Received Resolutions via mail from L Shumway NBCC Resolution 2026-35 Resolution 2026-36 Resolution 2026-37 |
| June 17, 2026 | NBCC submitted to OCROV the City offices up for election in 2026 and confirmed the correctness of precinct map for the City. | Transmittal document submitted by L Shumway NBCC |
| July 17, 2026 | NBCC informed OCROV that City would deliver three initiative petitions. Petitions were delivered to OCROV without direction regarding how the City wanted OCROV to review the voter signatures on the petitions. | Email from L Shumway NBCC |
| July 21, 2026 | NBCC submitted instructions to OCROV regarding how the City wanted OCROV to review the voter signatures on the petitions. OCROV requested clarification about the required number of valid voter signatures. | Email and letter from L Shumway NBCC Email to L Shumway NBCC |
| July 21, 2026 | ROV asks for letter from City requesting services | Email to NBCC |
| July 22, 2026 | NBCC submitted revised instructions to OCROV regarding how the City wanted OCROV to review the voter signatures on the petitions and clarified her review of the petitions when they were submitted on July 7 by the Newport Beach Stewardship Association. | Email and letter from L Shumway NBCC clarifying requested OCROV signature review services Email from L Shumway NBCC regarding her July 7 receipt of the petitions |
| August 7, 2026 | Deadline for cities to request consolidation of a municipal election with the 2026 General Election. | California Elections Code section 10403 |
| August 17, 2026 | OCROV provided NBCC with certificates regarding OCROV’s review of the voter signatures on the three initiative petitions. | Email, letter and certificate for initiative X Email, letter and certificate for initiative Y Email, letter and certificate for initiative Z |
| August 26, 2026 | County communicated County’s position on election consolidation to counsel for Newport Beach Stewardship Association following receipt of copy of court filing. | Letter to counsel for Newport Beach Stewardship Association |
| August 27, 2026 | City’s special counsel provided documents related to Superior Court order that the City put three Charter amendment measures before voters on November 3, 2026. | Letter from City’s special counsel |
| August 28, 2026 | County responded to City’s special counsel’s apparent request that County approve consolidation of the three Charter amendment measures election with the 2026 General Election. | Letter to City’s special counsel Email from counsel for Newport Beach Stewardship Association requesting status update |
| September 3, 2026 | City’s special counsel requested that County reconsider City’s request to consolidate the three Charter amendment measures election with the 2026 General Election. | Letter from City’s special counsel |
| September 4, 2026 | County responded to City’s special counsel’s request that County reconsider City’s request to consolidate the three Charter amendment measures election with the 2026 General Election. Election consultant for Newport Beach requested certain election services from OCROV. | Letter to City’s special counsel Email from City Consultant |
| September 8, 2026 | OCROV responded to Newport Beach’s request for election services without a City Council-adopted resolution and offered to provide the City with a voter registration file of all active voters in the City. | Email and Letter to L Shumway NBCC responding to services request with OC Cities Measures Calendar California Elections Code section 10002 California Elections Code section 10402.5 Email from L Shumway NBCC Email to L Shumway NBCC offering voter file |
| September 9, 2026 | NBCC requested and OCROV provided the City with a voter registration file of all active voters in the City that identified military and overseas voters and their ballot receipt preferences. | Email from L Shumway NBCC Email to L Shumway NBCC |
| September 10, 2026 | OCROV provided the City with instructions regarding how to download a City precinct map from OCROV’s website. | Email to L Shumway NBCC |
| September 11, 2026 | Newport Beach City Council adopted resolutions calling a special municipal election for November 3, 2026 and requested certain election services from the County. OCROV responded that providing the requested services would interfere with the administration of the regular statewide November 3, 2026 General Election and likely confuse Newport Beach voters. | City Council Special Meeting Staff Report Email from L Shumway NBCC Letter to L Shumway re City Resolution 2026-83 |
| September 13, 2026 | Law firm representing a Newport Beach voter submitted a demand letter to the City threatening to sue the City if the City Council didn’t rescind its resolutions calling a special municipal election for November 3, 2026. | Letter from law firm representing a Newport Beach voter |
| September 14, 2026 | NBCC requested guidance regarding potential amendments to the City's request for OCROV election services and further consideration of the request by the County. | Email from L Shumway NBCC Email from L Shumway NBCC |
| September 15, 2026 | Office of California Secretary of State notified the City's election consultant that the voting system to be used for the City's special municipal election must be certified by the State. | SOS email to City Consultant |
| September 17, 2026 | OCROV advised NBCC that its prior statements continue to apply. SOS counsel notified City Attorney that SOS cannot provide voter signature images to City | Email to L Shumway NBCC Email from SOS counsel to City Attorney |
| September 18, 2026 | NBCC requested confidential voter data from OCROV. OCROV advised NBCC that its prior statements continue to apply and that the confidential voter data cannot be provided. Counsel for Newport Beach Stewardship Association requested meeting with SOS counsel to discuss City access to voter signature images. Law firm representing a Newport Beach voter advised OCROV of its duty to protect voter personally identifiable information. |
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| September 22, 2026 | NBCC asked why the City’s request for election services was not being presented to the County of Orange Board of Supervisors on September 29. OCROV advised NBCC that it would not seek Board of Supervisors direction regarding the City’s request, which would interfere with the 2026 General Election |