Chester, California Public Records

Additionally, the town's proximity to recreation areas and its commitment to environmental conservation have attracted an increasing number of eco-conscious travelers, contributing to the diversification of the local economy.

Law enforcement in Chester falls under the jurisdiction of the Plumas County Sheriff's Office, which operates a substation located at 271 Main Street, Chester, CA 96020. The Plumas County Sheriff's Office is responsible for providing public safety services, responding to emergencies, and investigating criminal activities within the Chester area. Residents can contact the Chester substation for non-emergency inquiries or to report incidents. The Plumas County Sheriff's Office works closely with local law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and security of the community.

Chester voters are served by the Plumas County Elections Office, officially part of the Plumas County Clerk-Recorder's Office, located at 520 Main Street, Room 102, Quincy, CA 95971, phone (530) 283-6256, website https://www.countyofplumas.com/171/Elections. This office administers all federal, state, county, and local elections for Chester residents. California voters can register online at https://registertovote.ca.gov, with registration deadlines 15 days before each election; conditional voter registration is available through Election Day at the county elections office or any vote center. California requires no documentary proof of identification to register if the driver's license or state ID number is verified, though new registrants who register by mail without ID verification must provide identification when first voting. Chester does not have its own municipal government or city elections; as an unincorporated community, residents vote only in county, state, and federal elections. Plumas County holds elections for five-member Board of Supervisors (staggered four-year terms), with District 3 representing the Chester/Lake Almanor area; the next county supervisor election is in June 2026. Polling place assignments can be looked up at https://www.countyofplumas.com/171/Elections or by calling the elections office; California has transitioned to a vote center model where voters can cast ballots at any vote center in their county during the early voting period, not just their assigned precinct on Election Day. Public election records in California include voter registration rolls (available with restrictions for political purposes only), campaign finance disclosures through the California Fair Political Practices Commission at https://www.fppc.ca.gov, candidate filing statements available at the county elections office, and precinct-by-precinct election results published after each election. In the November 2024 presidential election, Plumas County reported approximately 62% voter turnout with 6,847 ballots cast out of 10,981 registered voters; the county leaned Republican with approximately 58% voting for the Republican presidential candidate. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature several statewide races for California voters including all 52 U.S. House seats (Chester is in California's 1st Congressional District), half of the 40 State Senate seats (District 1 representing Chester is up in 2026), all 80 State Assembly seats (District 1 representing Chester), and potentially statewide ballot measures. There is no U.S. Senate seat or Governor's race in California in 2026 (next in 2028 and 2026 respectively). County offices on the 2026 ballot include District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, Assessor, and Auditor-Controller, all four-year terms. California is a universal vote-by-mail state; all registered voters automatically receive mail ballots approximately 29 days before each election, which can be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day), dropped at secure ballot drop boxes throughout the county, or brought to any vote center. In-person voting is available at vote centers beginning 10 days before Election Day through Election Day, with extended hours on Election Day itself.