Larkspur, California Public Records

The California Secretary of State's website at registertovote.ca.gov allows electronic submission of voter registration applications through the state Motor Voter system. California offers same-day conditional voter registration through Election Day at vote centers and county elections offices. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, California residents, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not currently serving a state prison sentence for a felony conviction. The state does not require voter ID for registration or voting, though identification may be requested for first-time voters who registered by mail without providing a driver's license or ID number. The voter registration deadline for most elections is 15 days before Election Day, with conditional registration extending through Election Day. Municipal elections in the city follow a two-year cycle for City Council seats and are consolidated with statewide elections. The Larkspur City Council consists of five members serving four-year staggered terms, with the Council selecting a Mayor from among its members annually. Information about candidates, campaign finance filings, and local measures can be found through the Marin County Elections website and the City of Larkspur website at www.ci.larkspur.ca.us. Residents can locate their assigned polling place by visiting www.marinvotes.org and using the online lookup tool, or by checking their county-issued voter information guide mailed before each election. California has transitioned to a "vote center" model in many counties; Marin County provides both traditional precinct polling places and vote centers where any county voter can cast a ballot. Election records that are public in California include voter registration rosters (available for purchase for political purposes under Elections Code Section 2188), campaign finance disclosure reports filed by candidates and committees (searchable at the Marin County elections website and the state Fair Political Practices Commission at www.fppc.ca.gov), candidate statements and filings, certified election results by precinct, and historical turnout data. County offices including Marin County Supervisors for certain districts, District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, and other countywide positions may be contested. City Council seats will also be decided. Voters should expect multiple state propositions addressing policy issues, bond measures, and constitutional amendments. California is a universal vote-by-mail state; all registered voters automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot approximately 29 days before each election. Voters may return their ballot by mail (postage-paid), deposit it in an official drop box (locations listed at www.marinvotes.org), deliver it to any vote center or polling place in Marin County, or vote in person at a vote center or polling place. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 7 days to be counted, or delivered to a drop box or vote center by 8:00 PM on Election Day.