Napa County has 16 school boards with seats up for election this year, but only 8 of the 22 seats will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, the Press Democrat reported on Oct. 15.

Why most seats are off the ballot

Napa County Superintendent of Schools Joshua Schulz told the paper that while it can be hard to find candidates in the smallest districts, "most races aren't appearing on the ballot because they are uncontested." He added: "If only a single candidate is running for a school board seat, it doesn't appear on the ballot." Registrar of Voters John Tuteur said the share on the ballot is actually pretty high, according to the Press Democrat.

These had as many candidates as open seats and are off the ballot, the paper reported: Napa County Board of Education Trustee Areas 1, 2 and 4, Napa Valley College Trustee Area 5, Napa Valley Unified Trustee Area 3, the St. Helena Unified board and the Pope Valley Union board.

Howell Mountain: no candidates

Howell Mountain, the Angwin elementary district, is the only one of the 16 where nobody qualified, the Press Democrat said. Two two-year seats and two four-year seats are open, and the board will take applicants for appointment. Ballotpedia says the district had 85 students at its single school in the 2025 school year. The district's website says trustees are elected to four-year terms and there are no filing fees or signature requirements to run.

Board member Jeff Kresge, who the paper says was appointed both times he joined the board, told the Press Democrat: "People are living really busy lives, and I think a lot of people don't really give (serving on a school board) a thought." The paper says Kresge had earlier served nearly 12 years on the board.

What is on the ballot

The contested school races are Napa Valley College Trustee Areas 2, 3 and 4; Napa Valley Unified Trustee Areas 1, 6 and 7; and two at-large Calistoga Joint Unified seats. Our guides: NVC Area 2, NVC Area 3, NVC Area 4, NVUSD Area 1, NVUSD Area 6, NVUSD Area 7 and Calistoga Joint Unified.

Napa County voting guide: vote centers, drop boxes and deadlines.

More races and measures: our 2026 election hub.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.