City of Lake Forest Measure F — Lake Forest Election Reform and Voter Choice Measure (Orange County)

What it does

Shall the measure limiting city council members to two consecutive terms in office with a mandatory four-year out of office period before being eligible to serve for another two consecutive terms in office, be adopted?

A YES vote means

Lake Forest City Council members would be limited to two consecutive terms, then must be out of office four years before serving again.

A NO vote means

This two-consecutive-term limit would not be set for Lake Forest City Council members.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Who would notice

Lake Forest voters and current and former City Council members, including two members who term out in November 2026 under the current rule. It does not change any tax.

How it got here

The City Council placed it on the ballot. In January 2026 the Council unanimously dropped a proposal to extend terms to three and asked staff to draft a four-year waiting period instead. Councilmember Mark Tettemer said the lifetime ban is what he struggles with most.

In the news

• Lake Forest Voters Could Consider Overhauling City Council Term Limits · Voice of OC, 2026-02-10

Written by SpectrumVote from 2 linked sources (1, 2). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

The Lake Forest City Council placed this measure on the ballot, according to the City Attorney's impartial analysis; the city's current limit of two four-year terms for council members and the mayor has been in place since voters passed Measure S in 2018.

Under Measure F, a person who has served two four-year terms could serve again after at least four consecutive years out of office, and then serve up to two more terms; the analysis states the change would not give current members additional consecutive terms.

The voter guide includes an argument against the measure and notes that no argument in favor was submitted.

Put on the ballot by Lake Forest City Council, 2026 (resolution date and vote not stated in the voter guide).

From official source.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Orange County ballots

• City of Costa Mesa Measure C — The Costa Mesa Fair Business License Reform, Small Business Protection Measure
• City of Irvine Measure D — Measure Directing the Use of Ranked Choice Voting for City Council Member and Mayoral Elections after January 1, 2028
• City of Laguna Beach Measure E — An Ordinance of the People of the City of Laguna Beach, California, Adding Section 2.04.080 to the Laguna Beach Municipal Code to Establish Term Limits for City Council Members
• City of Los Alamitos Measure G — Los Alamitos Hotel Tax (TOT Measure)
• City of Newport Beach Measure H — City of Newport Beach General Plan – Amendment
• City of Orange Measure I — City of Orange Public Safety/Essential Services Measure
• City of Orange Measure J — City of Orange Hotel Guest Tax Modification Measure
• City of Orange Measure K — Proposed Charter for the City of Orange
• City of Placentia Measure L — Placentia Hotel Tax Measure
• City of San Clemente Measure M — San Clemente Natural Hazards Sales Tax Citizens Initiative
• City of Santa Ana Measure N — Santa Ana Streets, Public Safety, Essential City Services Measure
• City of Westminster Measure O — Westminster City Services Measure

All Orange County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Lake Forest Measure F mean?

Lake Forest City Council members would be limited to two consecutive terms, then must be out of office four years before serving again.

What does a NO vote on City of Lake Forest Measure F mean?

This two-consecutive-term limit would not be set for Lake Forest City Council members.

Could Councilmembers Voigts and Tettemer run again?

Both term out in November 2026. The argument against says Measure F would let them return after a break; the City Attorney's analysis says it would not add consecutive terms for current members. Under the measure's text, anyone who has served two consecutive terms must sit out four years before serving again.

Were arguments filed?

An argument against was filed by former Mayor James (Jim) Gardner. No argument in favor was submitted.

What vote does it need?

A simple majority.

How many votes does City of Lake Forest Measure F need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Lake Forest Measure F?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.