Bell Gardens, California Public Records

The registration deadline is 15 days before any election, though California offers same-day conditional voter registration at vote centers and county elections offices during early voting and on Election Day. Valid California driver's license or ID card number is required for online registration; those without can register by mail. The city holds municipal elections for mayor and city council seats, typically conducted along with statewide general or primary elections to increase turnout and reduce costs. The mayor serves a four-year term, as do the four city council members. The next municipal election is scheduled for March 2026, with candidates filing in late 2025. Local ballot measures, if any, appear on municipal election ballots. Information about candidates and local measures can be found through the Los Angeles County elections website and the city's website at bellgardens.org. Residents can look up their assigned polling place, vote center locations, and ballot information by visiting lavote.gov and entering their address. Los Angeles County has transitioned to a Vote Center model under the California Voter's Choice Act, meaning voters can visit any vote center in Los Angeles County during the 11-day voting period leading up to and including Election Day, rather than being restricted to a single assigned precinct. In California, many election records are public, including voter registration lists (available to campaigns and researchers with restrictions on use), campaign finance reports filed with the city clerk for local candidates and with county or state authorities for higher offices, candidate statements and filings, and precinct-level election results. These records can be accessed through lavote.gov and the California Secretary of State's website. In the November 2024 presidential election, Los Angeles County reported approximately 4.3 million ballots cast, representing roughly 70% turnout of registered voters, reflecting high engagement in the presidential contest. For the November 3, 2026 general election, voters will decide several key races. California's gubernatorial election will be held (Governor Gavin Newsom's current term ends in January 2027), along with other statewide constitutional offices including Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Treasurer. All 80 California State Assembly seats will be on the ballot, including the district representing the city (currently Assembly District 58). Half of the 40 California State Senate seats will also be contested depending on the district cycle. One of California's U.S. Senate seats will be on the ballot in 2026. County voters will decide on county supervisorial seats (depending on district), county offices such as Assessor and Sheriff, superior court judges, and various county and local ballot measures. City council seats may also be on the ballot depending on the municipal election schedule. California is a universal vote-by-mail state, meaning every registered voter automatically receives a ballot in the mail approximately 29 days before each election. Voters can complete and return their ballot by mail (postmarked by Election Day), deposit it in an official drop box located throughout Los Angeles County, or vote in person at any vote center during the voting period. No excuse is required for mail voting as it is the default method in California.