Big Bear Lake, California Public Records

Public safety is a priority in Big Bear Lake, with the local Sheriff's Station and the Big Bear City Fire Department serving as the primary law enforcement and emergency response agencies. The Sheriff's Station, located within the city, can be reached through the City of Big Bear Lake's website at https://www.citybigbearlake.com/index.php/en/services-main/public-safety/law-enforcement. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Inmate Locator at https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/ciris/ also provides information on individuals incarcerated within the state's correctional system.

Big Bear Lake voters are served by the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters, located at 777 East Rialto Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92415, phone (909) 387-8300, website www.sbcountyelections.com. This office administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Big Bear Lake residents, including voter registration, mail ballot processing, polling place operations, and election results reporting. California residents can register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov up to 15 days before an election, or use conditional voter registration at polling places or the elections office through Election Day. Registration requires a valid California driver license or ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Big Bear Lake, as an incorporated city, holds municipal elections for mayor and city council seats. The city operates under a five-member city council with rotating mayoral appointment. City council members serve four-year staggered terms, with municipal elections held in November of even-numbered years to coincide with state and federal elections. The next Big Bear Lake City Council election is scheduled for November 2026, with specific seats and candidates to be determined during the candidate filing period in summer 2026. Big Bear Lake residents can find their assigned polling place by visiting the County Registrar's polling place lookup tool at www.sbcountyelections.com or by checking their sample ballot mailed approximately 30 days before each election. California is a vote-by-mail state, with all registered voters automatically receiving mail ballots starting 29 days before each election. Voters may return ballots by mail (postmarked by Election Day), at secure drop boxes throughout San Bernardino County including locations in Big Bear Lake, or in person at vote centers. Public election records in California include voter registration files (available for purchase by campaigns and researchers with restrictions on use), campaign finance disclosures through the California Fair Political Practices Commission at www.fppc.ca.gov, candidate statements and filings, and detailed precinct-level election results. San Bernardino County reported approximately 52.3% voter turnout in the November 2024 presidential election, with over 560,000 ballots cast from more than 1.07 million registered voters countywide. In the November 3, 2026 election, Big Bear Lake and San Bernardino County voters will decide several major races: the California gubernatorial election (Governor Gavin Newsom term-limited, open seat), statewide constitutional officers including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, California State Senate and Assembly districts serving the Big Bear area, San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Third District (which includes Big Bear Lake), San Bernardino County Sheriff, District Attorney, Assessor-Recorder-Clerk, and potentially Big Bear Lake City Council seats. No U.S. Senate seat from California is scheduled for election in 2026 (Senators Padilla and Butler/Schiff elected in 2024 cycles).