Municipal Elections
2026 Municipal Elections
The city of Las Vegas municipal seats that will be up for election in 2026 are:
- Councilman Ward 2
- Councilman Ward 4
- Councilman Ward 6
- Municipal Judge, Department 1 (to fill the unexpired term ending 2028)
- Municipal Judge, Department 2 (to fill the unexpired term ending 2030)
Each City Council seat serves a four-year term. The judicial seats are filling unexpired terms. Information regarding candidate filing and the 2026 election information will be posted here in the fall of 2025.
The city of Las Vegas is not participating in the Aurora candidate filing method provided online by the Secretary of State. All candidates will be required to file in person using the forms provided below. We will begin accepting appointments for the city of Las Vegas judicial candidates Dec. 1, 2025. Please call 702.229.5937 or email trdresser@LasVegasNevada.gov with any questions or to make an appointment.
For answers to election questions that are not specific to city of Las Vegas City Council or judicial seats, please refer to the Clark County Election Department Website or call 702-455-VOTE.
Filing Period
For judicial seats in Departments 1 and 2: Monday, Jan. 5, through Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.
For City Council seats in Wards 2, 4 and 6: Monday, March 2, through Friday, March 13, 2026.
Qualifications For Office
Each candidate for CITY COUNCIL shall be a qualified elector* who has actually**, as opposed to constructively, resided within the ward which he/she desires to represent for a period of not less than 30 days immediately prior to the last day for filing a Declaration of Candidacy. Each City Councilman shall be elected by the registered voters of the ward in which he/she is a candidate.
Each candidate for MUNICIPAL JUDGE shall be an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Nevada, never been removed or retired from any judicial office by the Commission on Judicial Discipline and a qualified elector* who has actually**, as opposed to constructively, resided within the boundaries of the city for a period of not less than 30 days immediately prior to the last day for filing a Declaration of Candidacy. Each municipal judge shall be elected by the registered voters of the city at large.
*A qualified elector is a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older, who satisfies any residency requirement for this election and is not otherwise disqualified by reason of treason or felony conviction or insanity, unless their civil rights have been restored by a court of competent jurisdiction.
**“Actual residence” is defined in NRS 281.050 as the place where a person is legally domiciled and maintains a permanent habitation. If the person maintains more than one such habitation, the place the person declares to be his or her principal permanent habitation when filing a declaration pursuant to NRS 293C.185 shall be deemed to be the person’s actual residence.
Filing Fee
$100.00 (cash, check, cashier's check, money order and debit/credit cards accepted. We cannot accept personal checks unless the authorized signer on the account is present with identification.)
The Candidate Filing Packet documents will be made available on this page as the filing deadlines approach. There is no requirement to fill out the paperwork prior to your appointment, but doing so helps to expedite the process.
History
The city of Las Vegas was incorporated on June 1, 1911, and until 1944, operated under a "commission" form of government with each commissioner having administrative control over certain operating departments of the city. Since Jan. 1, 1944, the city of Las Vegas has operated under what is commonly known as a "council/manager" form of government. This form of government was approved by a vote of the people with subsequent Las Vegas City Charter adoption by the Legislature.
Until 1975, the voters of the city elected the mayor and four city councilmen. A vote of the people in June of 1973 approved a City Charter amendment dividing the city into four wards. This allowed the mayor to be elected at large and each councilman to be elected by the voters of his or her own ward. The City Charter amendment was subsequently adopted by the Legislature with the first election by ward held in 1975. The elected officials chose to use the title "commissioner" until 1983 when a new City Charter approved by the Legislature changed their title to "councilman."
The citizens elect the mayor, six council members who comprise the City Council, and six Municipal Court Judges. Terms for the Mayor and Council are four years, with elections staggered every two years, with staggered six-year terms for the Municipal Court Judges.
Mayor
The mayor serves as a member of the City Council, presides as chairperson over its meetings, performs ceremonial duties and is the chief executive officer of the city. The mayor serves as the official representative of the people in all matters and officially signs enactments of the City Council. One of the council members is elected by the City Council to serve as mayor pro tempore to act during the absence of the mayor.
City Council
The City Council, including the mayor, is the governing body of the city and exercises legislative power by enacting ordinances, resolutions, orders and other policies necessary for the management and execution of the powers vested in the city through the City Charter. Among other things, the City Council is empowered to:
- Appoint the city manager and approve the appointment by the manager of the department heads, their assistants and other city staff.
- Adopt an annual budget.
- Act as the Redevelopment Agency.
- Enact and provide for the enforcement of all laws and ordinances.
- May acquire, sell and lease buildings and property.
- Enter into contracts, agreements, franchises, etc.
- License and regulate all businesses, trades and professions.
- Organize, regulate and maintain a fire department.
- Protect the public health.
- Enact and enforce building and safety codes.
- Provide for the zoning, subdivision and use of private land and buildings.
- Provide for traffic control.
- Provide for the abatement, prevention and removal of nuisances.
- Establish and appoint citizens to serve on city of Las Vegas boards - Planning Commission, Civil Service Board, Arts Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, to name just a few.
- Also, members of the City Council serve on various boards - Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Regional Transportation Commission, Regional Flood Control, District Board of Health, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Metropolitan Police Committee on Fiscal Affairs, etc.
Municipal Court Judges
A single Municipal Court judge presided until 1969 when the City Commission appointed an additional judge for Department 2. In 1975, by ordinance, Department 3 was established with Department 4 being added in 1977. To further serve our growing community, the City Council created Departments 5 and 6 in 1989 and 1991 respectively.
The citizens elect the judges at large by department number. Each judge presides over his or her respective department. In 2001, the Nevada State Legislature increased the judicial terms from four to six years.
The qualifications for Municipal Court judge are:
- Shall devote full time to the duties of his or her office.
- Duly licensed member in good standing of the State Bar of Nevada.
- Never have been removed or retired from any judicial office by the Commission on Judicial Discipline.
- Qualified elector who has resided within the city for a period of not less than 30 days immediately before the last day for filing a declaration for candidacy.
- Voted upon by the registered voters of the city at large.