Hawthorne, California Public Records

The LA Metro Transit Authority maintains its own transit police force, while the California Highway Patrol (CHP) covers freeways and unincorporated areas. LAPD crime data is published at data.lacity.org. Under SB 2 (2023), all California law enforcement agencies must proactively disclose sustained misconduct records, use-of-force incidents, and officer-involved shooting investigations.

The Elections Division handles voter registration, polling place operations, vote-by-mail ballots, ballot design, candidate filings, campaign finance disclosure, and election results certification. Residents can register to vote online at https://registertovote.ca.gov, California's statewide voter registration portal operated by the Secretary of State. The state offers same-day voter registration (Conditional Voter Registration) during the early voting period and on Election Day at vote centers and county election offices. The deadline for standard voter registration is 15 days before an election. New registrants need to provide a California driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. California also offers pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the next election. Motor Voter registration automatically registers eligible citizens when they obtain or renew a driver's license unless they opt out. The City of Hawthorne holds municipal elections for Mayor and City Council members. The community operates under a council-manager form of government with a five-member City Council including the Mayor. Council members serve four-year staggered terms. Municipal elections are typically held along with the statewide primary or general elections to increase turnout and reduce costs. The next municipal election is scheduled for March 2026, when voters will elect City Council members whose terms are expiring. Candidates for municipal offices file nomination papers with the City Clerk at Hawthorne City Hall, 4455 West 126th Street, and campaign finance statements are filed with both the city and accessible through the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder. Local ballot measures, such as tax proposals or charter amendments, also appear on ballots when placed by the City Council or citizen petition. Voters can find their assigned polling place or vote center location by visiting https://lavote.gov and using the polling place lookup tool, or by checking their sample ballot mailed before each election. Los Angeles County has transitioned to a Vote Center model under the Voter's Choice Act, allowing voters to cast ballots at any vote center in Los Angeles County during an 11-day voting period before and including Election Day, rather than being restricted to a single precinct polling place. Vote centers offer in-person voting, same-day registration, ballot drop-off, and accessible voting equipment. California is a universal vote-by-mail state. All registered voters automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot before each election. Voters can complete and return ballots by mail (postmarked by Election Day), drop them at official ballot drop boxes located throughout Los Angeles County, or bring them to any vote center. To request a replacement ballot or update vote-by-mail preferences, residents can contact the Registrar-Recorder or use the online portal at lavote.gov. Military and overseas voters can receive and return ballots electronically under federal UOCAVA provisions. Election records public in California include voter registration lists (available to candidates and qualified requesters with restrictions on use), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and committees (available through the City Clerk for local races and at cal-access.sos.ca.gov for state races), candidate statements and filings, precinct-level election results, and ballot measure text and analysis. The Registrar-Recorder's website posts unofficial election results on election night and updates them as vote counting continues, with certified final results published after the official canvass period. Historical election results and voter registration statistics are archived and publicly accessible. In the November 2024 presidential election, Los Angeles County reported approximately 4.3 million votes cast out of 5.7 million registered voters, representing a turnout of approximately 75-76 percent, among the highest in recent cycles. Hawthorne's turnout mirrored county trends with strong participation in the presidential race. The November 3, 2026 general election will be a critical midterm election for California and local voters. Races on the ballot will include: one U.S. Senate seat (California's Class III Senate seat, currently held by a senator whose term expires in January 2027), all California U.S. House seats including the district representing the city (currently the 43rd Congressional District), statewide constitutional offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Superintendent of Public Instruction, all four-year terms expiring in 2027), all 80 California State Assembly seats (two-year terms), half of the 40 California State Senate seats (four-year terms), Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors seats up for election in even-numbered districts, Los Angeles County assessor, sheriff, and other county offices if terms expire, Superior Court judicial seats, Hawthorne City Council seats whose terms expire in 2026, and numerous state and local ballot measures addressing taxes, bonds, and policy issues. Voters should consult their sample ballot for the complete list of races and measures specific to their districts.