Bayside, California Public Records

The office maintains regular hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with extended availability before elections. Residents can register to vote online through the California Secretary of State's portal at https://registertovote.ca.gov/. California offers same-day voter registration through Election Day, allowing eligible residents to register and vote conditionally at vote centers or the Humboldt County elections office up to and including Election Day, though pre-registration at least 15 days before an election ensures registration is fully processed before ballots are mailed. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, California residents, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not currently serving a state prison term for a felony conviction. A California driver's license or identification card number is required for online registration, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Because this is an unincorporated community, it does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council. Residents vote in Humboldt County Supervisor elections for the Board of Supervisors, with five districts and four-year staggered terms, typically held in June during gubernatorial election years. The community falls within one of the five supervisor districts, with boundaries verifiable through the Elections Office. Residents also vote for countywide offices including Sheriff-Coroner, District Attorney, Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, Auditor-Controller, and Treasurer-Tax Collector, as well as numerous special districts covering schools, water, fire protection, and other services. The Humboldt County Office of Education oversees several school districts serving the area, including Northern Humboldt Union High School District and various elementary districts, with school board elections held in even-numbered years. To find their assigned polling place or vote center, residents can use the California Secretary of State's lookup tool at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place or contact the Humboldt County Elections Office directly. California has transitioned to the Voter's Choice Act in Humboldt County, which means all registered voters automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot, and in-person voting is available at vote centers open for multiple days before and on Election Day, rather than traditional precinct polling places open only on Election Day. Election records that are public in California include voter registration rolls (available for purchase by qualified requesters under California Elections Code Section 2188 for political purposes), campaign finance disclosure reports filed by candidates and committees (searchable at the Humboldt County level through the Elections Office and at the state level through the California Fair Political Practices Commission at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/), candidate statements and filings, and precinct-level election results. The Elections Office publishes detailed results on its website following each election, broken down by precinct and vote center. In the November 2024 general election, Humboldt County reported voter turnout of approximately 72-76%, with detailed results available on the Humboldt County elections website showing outcomes for presidential, U.S. Senate, congressional (California's 2nd Congressional District), state legislature, and various state propositions and local measures. Turnout in Humboldt County historically runs slightly higher than California's statewide average for presidential elections. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election (note: California's statewide elections are typically held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, which in 2026 falls on November 3), Bayside and Humboldt County voters will decide several critical races. The 2026 ballot will include races for Governor of California (Gavin Newsom's current term expires in January 2027, and the gubernatorial election is held in 2026), all statewide constitutional offices (Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, and Superintendent of Public Instruction), California State Senate and State Assembly seats representing Humboldt County, Humboldt County Board of Supervisors seats (depending on district rotation), and various county offices and special district positions. California does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026 (Senator Alex Padilla's seat is next up in 2028; Senator Adam Schiff's seat is next up in 2028 as well following the 2024 special election cycle). Local measures, school bonds, and tax propositions may also appear on the ballot. California offers universal vote-by-mail; every registered voter receives a ballot in the mail approximately 29 days before Election Day. Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days), dropped off at any vote center or ballot drop box location in Humboldt County, or voters can choose to vote in person at a vote center during the early voting period or on Election Day. No excuse is required for voting by mail in California. Voters who do not receive a ballot or who need a replacement can contact the Humboldt County Elections Office at (707) 445-7481 or request one online through the Humboldt County elections website.