Housing on the Ballot this Election
Your vote matters! Palo Alto’s last City Council election was decided by just 10 votes.
Learn about pro-housing and pro-transit ballot measure endorsements, candidate forums, and voter registration details.
PAF Ballot Measure Endorsements
Vote NO on Prop 43: Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Deception Act
Kneecap local governments’ ability to raise revenue for essential services and housing.
Endorse NO on Prop 43
Vote YES on RTM : Regional Transit Measure to Connect Bay Area
Protect Caltrain, BART, VTA, and other transit agencies from severe service cuts.
Endorse YES on RTM
Vote YES on Prop 1: Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act
$11.25 Billion for affordable housing production and preservation, building up to 40,000 new homes.
Endorse YES on Prop 1
Vote YES on Palo Alto Measure J: Fund Cubberley Community Center
1/2-cent sales tax to fund community services and safety, including upgrades to Cubberley Community Center!
Vote YES on Measure J
City Council Candidate Forum on HOUSING
Learn where the eight Palo Alto city council candidates stand on housing near transit, opportunity in exclusive single-family neighborhoods, protections for renters, and more. Co-hosted by Palo Alto Forward and the SV@Home Action Fund.
Judging a Pro-Housing, Pro-Transit Candidate
Candidates often say things that make judging who really supports pro-housing, pro-transit policies difficult. PAF cannot endorse candidates, but we can provide pointers to help you identify candidates aligning with PAF’s values. Pro-housing candidates will support:
All housing, not just “affordable housing”: Elected officials sometimes use affordable housing as a pretense to block housing. Creating a Palo Alto accessible to everyone means supporting housing of all kinds—affordable, market-rate, and everything in between.
State housing laws encouraging more housing: Pro-housing elected officials understand that state laws supporting more homes compliment local efforts. “Local control” is not inherently good or bad; the state and our city can work together to create a community with homes for everyone.
Expanding renters’ rights, not just sticking to the status quo: Palo Alto has strengthened its tenant protections in recent years, but it still has weaker policies than nearby communities like Mountain View and Redwood City. Pro-tenant candidates support new policies.
Bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and slow streets: Creating a pro-mobility city means supporting safe options for people to move around by every kind of transportation. That includes cars, but isn’t limited to them.
Candidates’ voting records also indicate where they stand. AI tools can help identify and compare the candidates’ records with the following prompt: “Compare and contrast the housing records of candidates running for Palo Alto's city council. Cite specific quotes from websites or forums as well as their concrete voting records if they have them”—though you have to check their sources!
Support Housing Affordability: Join Palo Alto Forward
We are Palo Alto’s premier pro-housing, pro-tenant organization. We exist to expand housing and transportation choices for a more inclusive, affordable, and environmentally sustainable Palo Alto by working with residents and city government. Donate below or sign up for our email list on the form to receive updates on how you can get involved.
Information on Voter Registration and Measures
In-person voting options
Vote by mail or drop off your ballots at these drop box sites! You can also vote in person at these locations on election day.
