Buellton, California Public Records

Registration deadlines fall 15 days before each election for online and mail registration, though the state offers conditional voter registration during the 14-day period before Election Day and on Election Day itself at vote centers and county elections offices. New registrants must provide a California driver's license or identification card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. As an incorporated city, Buellton has an elected City Council and Mayor. Municipal elections take place in November of even-numbered years, with council seats elected to four-year staggered terms. The next City Council election is scheduled for November 2026. Candidate filing information, local ballot measures, and campaign finance disclosures for municipal candidates are available through the City Clerk's office at City Hall, 107 West Highway 246, phone (805) 686-5361, and on the Santa Barbara County Elections website. Municipal election information typically appears 120-180 days before the election. Residents can find their assigned polling place or vote center by visiting the Santa Barbara County elections website at www.sbcountyelections.com and using the polling place lookup tool, or by calling (805) 568-2200. Santa Barbara County has transitioned to a Vote Center model, allowing voters to cast ballots at any vote center in Santa Barbara County during the early voting period or on Election Day, rather than being restricted to a single assigned precinct. In the November 2024 presidential election, Santa Barbara County reported approximately 58% voter turnout among registered voters, with over 155,000 ballots cast out of approximately 268,000 registered voters. Mail-in voting accounted for the majority of ballots, consistent with the state's permanent vote-by-mail system. The November 3, 2026 election will be significant for local voters. California does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026 (the next Senate races are in 2028), but several important races will appear on the ballot. The Governor of California race tops the list, as Governor Gavin Newsom's term ends in January 2027. Other statewide constitutional offices on the ballot include Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, and State Board of Equalization members. California State Assembly and State Senate seats representing the community (currently Assembly District 37 and State Senate District 19, though subject to redistricting) will also be contested. At the Santa Barbara County level, Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors seats elected countywide and by district will appear on the ballot depending on the electoral cycle. City Council seats will be on the November 2026 ballot as well, with candidate filing opening in July 2026. Voter information guides with full candidate lists and ballot measure details will be mailed to all registered voters approximately 30 days before the election. California operates as a universal vote-by-mail state, meaning every registered voter automatically receives a ballot by mail 29 days before each election. Voters can return mail ballots by postage-paid mail (postmarked by Election Day), drop them in official drop boxes located throughout Santa Barbara County, or bring them to any vote center. Those who prefer to vote in person can do so at vote centers during the early voting period (typically starting 10 days before Election Day) or on Election Day itself. Vote center locations for Santa Barbara County are published on the Santa Barbara County elections website approximately 30 days before each election. Election records that are public in California include voter registration rolls (available to campaigns and researchers with restrictions under California Elections Code), campaign finance reports for candidates and ballot measure committees (searchable at the Santa Barbara County elections office and through the California Secretary of State's Cal-Access database at cal-access.sos.ca.gov), candidate statements and financial disclosures, precinct-level election results, and statements of vote. The Elections Division publishes detailed election results by precinct and vote center on their website after each election, typically updated on election night and certified within 30 days.