Bethel Island, California Public Records

The Elections Division maintains voter registration records, precinct maps, and election materials for all local precincts. Residents can register to vote online through the California Secretary of State's website at registertovote.ca.gov, which offers a secure online registration system requiring a California driver's license or identification card number. Voter registration deadlines in California fall 15 days before any election, though the state also offers conditional voter registration allowing eligible citizens to register and vote provisionally during the 14-day period before Election Day and on Election Day itself at designated locations. New residents must provide their local address, date of birth, and last four digits of their Social Security number. California offers same-day registration at county elections offices and certain vote centers during the early voting period. As an unincorporated community, the island has no municipal government, mayor, or city council, so there are no city-level elections specific to the area. Residents vote in Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors elections for District V, which covers the island and eastern county communities. County Supervisor elections are held in presidential election years with four-year terms. Local voters also participate in elections for special districts including the Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District, East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, and Liberty Union High School District, with governing board elections typically held in November of even-numbered years. School board and special district elections often appear on the same ballot as state and federal races. Residents can find their assigned polling place through the Contra Costa County Elections Division website at www.contracostacore.us using the polling place lookup tool, which requires entering a residential address. California has transitioned many counties to the Voter's Choice Act model, though Contra Costa County has maintained traditional neighborhood polling places for most elections while expanding vote center options. Voters receive a sample ballot and polling location information by mail approximately one month before each election. Under California's Public Records Act and election transparency laws, numerous election records are publicly accessible. Voter registration lists (excluding confidential voters such as those in address protection programs) can be purchased from the Elections Division for political and research purposes. Campaign finance disclosure statements for county offices, school boards, and local ballot measure committees are filed with the Contra Costa County Elections Division and available for public inspection at the Martinez office or through online databases. Candidate filing documents, nomination papers, and statements of qualifications are public records. Precinct-level election results showing vote totals by geographic area are published after certification on the Elections Division website, providing detailed breakdowns of how local precincts voted on each race and measure. In the November 2024 presidential election, Contra Costa County reported approximately 65% voter turnout among registered voters, with roughly 430,000 ballots cast out of approximately 660,000 registered voters county-wide. The island's specific turnout mirrored eastern county patterns with somewhat lower participation rates than western urban areas. The county processed the vast majority of ballots through mail-in voting, continuing the trend toward vote-by-mail that accelerated after California's 2020 universal mail ballot distribution. The November 3, 2026 general election will present local voters with significant decisions including the California gubernatorial race (Governor Gavin Newsom's term expires in 2027, and 2026 is the election year), all 80 California State Assembly seats (the island is in District 11), half of the 40 California State Senate seats (District 3 covering the area is up in 2026), all 52 of California's U.S. House of Representatives seats (the island is in District 8 or 9 depending on redistricting), and one of California's U.S. Senate seats (the Class III seat currently held by Senator Alex Padilla is up for election in 2026). County-level races will include Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors District V, County Assessor, Auditor-Controller, Clerk-Recorder, District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, and Treasurer-Tax Collector, as these constitutional county offices are elected in gubernatorial election years. School board seats for Liberty Union High School District and Brentwood Union School District will also appear on the ballot, along with potential governing board seats for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District and other special districts serving the community. Local ballot measures may address tax rates, bond issues for schools or infrastructure, or policy questions specific to special districts. California offers multiple methods for casting ballots. Every registered voter receives a vote-by-mail ballot automatically, which can be returned by mail (postage-paid), deposited in official drop boxes located throughout Contra Costa County (with several boxes in eastern county areas accessible to residents), or surrendered at any polling place or vote center on Election Day in exchange for an in-person ballot. Mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days to be counted. Voters can also vote in person during early voting periods at designated vote centers or on Election Day at their assigned polling place. California allows any registered voter to request permanent vote-by-mail status, making sure of automatic ballot delivery for every election, though this is now the default for all voters. Ballot tracking is available through the "Where's My Ballot?" system at california.ballottrax.net, which sends email, text, or voice notifications when a mail ballot is sent, received, and counted.