Ben Lomond, California Public Records

California residents can register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov up to 15 days before any election, though the state also offers conditional voter registration at vote centers and county elections offices through Election Day itself. Eligibility requires U.S. Citizenship, California residency, being at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not currently serving a state prison term for a felony conviction. No photo ID is required to register or vote in most circumstances. As an unincorporated community, Ben Lomond has no city government and therefore holds no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Instead, residents vote in Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors elections - Ben Lomond falls within District 5 - along with California State Assembly and State Senate races, Congressional elections, statewide ballot measures and initiatives, and special district elections for entities like the San Lorenzo Valley Water District and local school districts. The Board of Supervisors holds elections on a rotating schedule, with each of the five districts electing a supervisor to a four-year term. Residents can find their assigned polling place by visiting www.votescount.us and using the polling place lookup tool, or by checking the sample ballot mailed to every registered voter before each election. The county has transitioned to a Vote Center model under the California Voter's Choice Act, allowing voters to cast ballots at any vote center in Santa Cruz County during a multi-day voting period rather than being restricted to a single precinct on Election Day. California will hold elections for all 52 U.S. House seats, including the district that covers this community. The state will also elect all 80 State Assembly members and 20 of 40 State Senate seats - specifically the even-numbered districts. Local measures for school bonds, parcel taxes, and special district matters commonly appear on county ballots. California is a universal vote-by-mail state - every registered voter automatically receives a mail ballot before each election, which can be returned by mail postage-free, deposited in secure drop boxes located throughout Santa Cruz County, or brought to any vote center. Voters can also cast ballots in person at vote centers beginning several days before Election Day. Under the California Public Records Act, certain election records are publicly accessible, including voter registration lists available with restrictions under California Elections Code Section 2194, campaign finance reports filed with the county Elections Department and the California Fair Political Practices Commission at www.fppc.ca.gov, candidate statements and filings, precinct-level election results, and statements of vote. Voter registration data for commercial purposes is restricted. The county provides detailed election results by precinct on the Elections Department website after each election is certified.