Aliso Viejo, California Public Records

Standard office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with extended hours before elections. Residents can register to vote online through the California Secretary of State's system at https://registertovote.ca.gov. California's Same Day Voter Registration allows eligible residents to register and vote conditionally at any Vote Center during the 11-day voting period before and including Election Day. The deadline for online and mail registration is 15 days before Election Day. Registration requires U.S. Citizenship, California residency, being at least 18 years old by Election Day, not currently serving time in state or federal prison or on parole for a felony conviction, and not being found mentally incompetent by a court. The state implemented automatic voter registration through the Department of Motor Vehicles for those obtaining driver licenses and ID cards. Voters can verify their registration status, update addresses, and review party affiliation at https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. Municipal elections for the City Council and Mayor take place in November of even-numbered years, consolidated with statewide general elections. Candidate filing information, campaign disclosure statements, and local ballot measures are available through the City Clerk's office at (949) 425-2500 and on the city website at https://www.cityofalisoviejo.com. Candidates file nomination papers with the Orange County Registrar of Voters during the nomination period, typically opening in mid-July of election years. Residents can locate their assigned Vote Center locations through the Orange County Registrar of Voters website at https://www.ocvote.gov/voting/vote-center-locations. Under California's Voter's Choice Act implemented countywide beginning in 2020, voters may visit any Vote Center in Orange County during the 11-day voting period, not just on Election Day. Vote Centers offer same-day voter registration, ballot drop-off, accessible voting equipment, and multilingual assistance. Locations and hours are posted online 30 days before each election. California Elections Code and the Public Records Act make certain election records available to the public. Voter registration information including names, addresses, party affiliation, and voting history (whether someone voted in specific elections, but not how they voted) is public but subject to restrictions on commercial use. The Registrar provides voter file data to qualified requesters under strict usage limitations. Campaign finance disclosure statements for city, county, and state candidates are public records searchable through the California Secretary of State's Cal-Access database at http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov and the Orange County Registrar's campaign disclosure system. Candidate filing documents, nomination papers, and ballot measure materials are public records available at the Registrar's office. Precinct-level election results are published on the Registrar's website after each election with detailed vote totals by contest. 6 million registered voters countywide The county's election results showed competitive races across multiple contests with strong engagement in both national and local elections. Orange County voters will elect countywide offices including Sheriff-Coroner, District Attorney, Assessor, Clerk-Recorder, and Treasurer-Tax Collector. Two City Council seats are scheduled for election. All U.S. House of Representatives seats for California are on the ballot in 2026, including the district representing the city (currently the 40th Congressional District). No U.S.Local measures, school board elections for Capistrano Unified School District and Saddleback Valley Unified School District, and special district elections may also appear on the ballot. California offers universal vote-by-mail, with all registered voters automatically receiving a mail ballot approximately 29 days before each election. Voters can complete and return mail ballots by postage-paid mail (must be postmarked by Election Day), by dropping them at any ballot drop box location throughout Orange County, or by bringing them to any Vote Center. Residents can request to opt out of automatic mail ballot delivery and vote only in person at Vote Centers by updating preferences through the Registrar of Voters. Mail ballots can be tracked through the "Where's My Ballot?" system at https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/ providing email, text, or voice notifications when ballots are mailed, received, and counted.