Brea, California Public Records

California's bail system permits inmates to secure release by posting bond, either through direct payment to the court or by engaging a bail bondsman. Those seeking information on recently arrested individuals can use the Sheriff's Department's online resources.

Eligibility requirements include 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. The city conducts municipal elections on a four-year cycle for its City Council and Mayor. Five council members are elected at-large with staggered terms, and the next election is scheduled for November 2026, when three seats will appear on the ballot. Rather than direct election, the mayor is selected by fellow council members from among themselves through a rotation system. Candidate information, campaign finance disclosures, and local ballot measures specific to the city can be found on the City Clerk's page at www.cityofbrea.net or through the county Registrar's website, which publishes sample ballots and candidate statements approximately 40 days before each election. Residents can look up their assigned polling place, vote center locations, and ballot drop-box sites by visiting www.ocvote.com and using the "Where To Vote" lookup tool with their residential address. Orange County operates under the Voter's Choice Act model, meaning all registered voters automatically receive vote-by-mail ballots, and voters can cast ballots at any vote center in Orange County during the 10-day period leading up to and including Election Day. California makes extensive election records public, including voter registration statistics (though not individual voter party affiliation or participation history without authorization), campaign finance reports through the Fair Political Practices Commission at http://www.fppc.ca.gov, candidate statements and filings, precinct-level election results, and ballot measure text and arguments. In the November 2024 presidential election, Orange County reported approximately 64% voter turnout among registered voters, with over 1.1 million ballots cast countywide. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature several major races for the area: the California gubernatorial election (Governor Gavin Newsom's term expires in 2027), all 80 seats in the California State Assembly, 20 of the 40 California State Senate seats, all 52 U.S. House seats representing California (including Orange County's congressional districts), statewide ballot propositions on various policy issues, Orange County Board of Supervisors seats in certain districts, Orange County District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, Assessor, and other county offices depending on the election cycle, Brea City Council seats as noted above, the Brea Olinda Unified School District Board of Education, and various special district boards and local measures including potential infrastructure bonds, tax measures, and advisory questions. California offers several options for mail-in voting: all registered voters automatically receive vote-by-mail ballots sent to their registered address starting 29 days before Election Day; voters can track their ballot status online at https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/; completed ballots can be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day), deposited in official ballot drop boxes located throughout Orange County until 8:00 PM on Election Day, or returned in person to any vote center. First-time voters who registered by mail may need to provide identification when voting. No excuse is required for mail-in voting in California, and voters who receive a mail ballot can still choose to vote in person at a vote center if they prefer.