Big Bear City, California Public Records

Registration requires providing a California driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number, plus date of birth and residential address. As an unincorporated community, the area does not hold its own municipal elections for mayor or city council. Instead, residents vote in San Bernardino County Supervisor elections for the 1st District, which represents the mountain communities. Local voters also participate in elections for state and federal offices including U.S. President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives (currently in California's 8th Congressional District), California Governor, State Assembly, and State Senate. Polling place information can be found through the County Registrar's website at www.sbcountyelections.com using the "Where Do I Vote?" lookup tool, which requires entering the voter's residential address. San Bernardino County now uses a Vote Center model, where voters can cast ballots at any vote center in San Bernardino County during early voting periods and on Election Day, rather than being assigned to specific precinct polling places. Public election records in California include voter registration files (names and addresses, with privacy protections), campaign finance reports accessible through the California Fair Political Practices Commission at www.fppc.ca.gov, candidate statements and filings available through the County Registrar, and precinct-level election results published after each election on the Registrar's website. In the November 2024 presidential election, San Bernardino County recorded approximately 56% voter turnout with roughly 580,000 ballots cast from over 1 million registered voters. For the November 3, 2026 general election, voters in this mountain community and throughout San Bernardino County will decide races including California Governor, all constitutional state offices (Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction), one U.S. Senate seat (Class III), California State Assembly and State Senate seats, San Bernardino County offices including District Attorney, Sheriff, Assessor, Auditor-Controller, County Supervisor districts, Superior Court judges, and various local ballot measures. The 1st District County Supervisor seat is scheduled for election in 2026. California voters receive mail-in ballots automatically under the state's universal vote-by-mail system. Ballots are mailed approximately 29 days before each election and can be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day), deposited in official ballot drop boxes located throughout San Bernardino County, or surrendered at any vote center to vote in person. Voters can track their mail ballot status through the "Where's My Ballot?" system at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov. The San Bernardino County Registrar maintains a vote center in Big Bear Lake during election periods, typically at 42200 Moonridge Road, providing accessible in-person voting and voter services for area residents.