Foster, Virginia Public Records

In matters of public safety, the Foster Police Department diligently serves the community, ensuring a secure environment for its residents. Complementing their efforts, the Mathews County Sheriff's Office oversees law enforcement duties for the surrounding areas, offering a comprehensive approach to safety and crime prevention. For individuals seeking to obtain arrest records, mugshots, booking records, or criminal history information, the process begins by contacting the Foster Police Department's records unit, where requests can be submitted.

Foster voters are served by the Mathews County Office of Voter Registration and Elections, located at 10622 Buckley Hall Road, Mathews, VA 23109, phone (804) 725-7172. The office is responsible for maintaining voter rolls, processing registrations, conducting elections, and providing election information for all Mathews County residents including those in Foster. Virginia residents can register to vote online at vote.virginia.gov, the official Virginia Department of Elections portal, up to 22 days before any election. Registration requires providing name, address, date of birth, social security number, and Virginia DMV customer number or last four digits of SSN. Same-day registration is not available in Virginia. Foster, as an unincorporated community, does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council. Voters participate in Mathews County elections for the Board of Supervisors (five members elected from districts to four-year terms), Constitutional Officers including Sheriff, Commonwealth's Attorney, Clerk of Court, Commissioner of Revenue, and Treasurer (all elected to four-year terms), and School Board members. County elections are typically held in November of odd-numbered years. Foster residents vote at polling places assigned by precinct, which can be looked up at vote.virginia.gov by entering a residential address. In the November 2024 presidential election, Mathews County reported approximately 64% voter turnout with roughly 5,900 registered voters and approximately 3,800 ballots cast, with the county favoring Republican candidates by substantial margins. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, Virginia voters including those in Foster will decide elections for all 100 Virginia House of Delegates seats (two-year terms), and potentially the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Tim Kaine (Class 1 seat up in 2024, so the Class 2 seat held by Mark Warner will be up in 2026), along with local Mathews County Board of Supervisors seats depending on the election cycle. Virginia does not hold gubernatorial elections in 2026 (next in 2025). Absentee voting in Virginia is available to all registered voters without excuse required since 2020 law changes; applications can be submitted online at vote.virginia.gov, by mail, or in person at the Registrar's office beginning 45 days before an election. Completed absentee ballots must be received by 7:00 PM on Election Day. Early in-person voting is available at the Registrar's office starting 45 days before Election Day during business hours and extended hours closer to the election. Public election records in Virginia include voter registration lists (available with restrictions under Virginia Code § 24.2-405), campaign finance disclosure reports searchable at elections.virginia.gov/candidatepac-vonris/sf/, candidate filings, and precinct-level election results published by the State Board of Elections and the Mathews County Registrar. The Virginia Department of Elections website provides comprehensive information on voting deadlines, ballot questions, candidate lists, and polling locations.