Felton, California Public Records

Law enforcement services in Felton are provided by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. This agency is responsible for patrolling the city, responding to emergency calls, and investigating criminal activity. Felton residents can access information about local crime statistics, file reports, and inquire about law enforcement resources through the Sheriff's Office's public records and community engagement programs. The Sheriff's Office works closely with Felton officials to ensure the safety and security of the local community.

Felton residents vote in federal, state, and county elections administered by the Santa Cruz County Elections Department, located at 701 Ocean Street, Room 210, Santa Cruz, CA 95060; phone (831) 454-2060; website www.votescount.us. This office manages voter registration, candidate filings, ballot preparation, vote-by-mail processing, polling place assignments, and official election results for all of Santa Cruz County, including the unincorporated community of Felton. California residents can register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov; the deadline to register for an election is 15 days before Election Day, and California also offers conditional voter registration allowing eligible citizens to register and vote provisionally up through Election Day at designated locations. Voter registration requires providing a California driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number, plus a residential address and date of birth. Because Felton is unincorporated and has no city council, mayor, or municipal offices, residents do not vote in city or town elections; instead, their local representation comes from the five-member Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, which governs the county and unincorporated areas. Supervisor elections are held by district; Felton is located in District 1, with the seat up for election in November of presidential election years (last elected in 2024, next in 2028). Felton voters can find their assigned polling place and vote center through the county's online polling place lookup tool at www.votescount.us or by calling the Elections Department. California is a universal vote-by-mail state—every registered voter automatically receives a ballot by mail beginning 29 days before each election; ballots can be returned by mail (postage-paid), deposited in official drop boxes throughout Santa Cruz County, or voters may choose to vote in person at vote centers open before and on Election Day. Public election records available under California law include the voter registration roll (names and addresses, excluding confidential voters), campaign finance disclosure reports filed by candidates and political action committees (searchable at cal-access.sos.ca.gov for state races and through the county for local races), candidate statements, ballot measure text, and precinct-level election results published after each election. In the November 2024 general election, Santa Cruz County saw voter turnout of approximately 78% of registered voters, reflecting high engagement in the presidential contest. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 statewide general election, Felton and Santa Cruz County voters will decide a range of important offices and measures: the gubernatorial race (Governor Gavin Newsom's term expires in 2026, making the Governor's seat open or subject to reelection depending on term limits and candidacy), all 80 seats in the California State Assembly (including Assembly District 28 which covers Felton), half of the 40 seats in the California State Senate (odd-numbered districts are up in 2026), California's U.S. Senate seat held by Alex Padilla (up for election in 2026), all California U.S. House seats including the district representing Santa Cruz County, county offices such as Sheriff, District Attorney, Assessor, and one or two seats on the Board of Supervisors, as well as statewide ballot propositions and potential county measures addressing taxation, land use, cannabis regulation, or public services. Candidate filing for county offices opens in early 2026 and information on candidates and local measures will be published by the Elections Department and in the official voter information guide mailed to all households. Felton voters seeking to run for county office or place a measure on the ballot can obtain candidate and initiative handbooks from the Elections Department or at www.votescount.us.