Madera, California Public Records

The city's economic development initiatives aim to support local businesses and attract new investment, further strengthening the community's economic vitality and employment opportunities for its 80,937 residents.

Same-day conditional voter registration is available at county elections offices and voting locations through Election Day. Voters must be U.S. Citizens, California residents, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. The state does not require voter ID for registration or voting by mail, though first-time voters who registered by mail may need to provide identification. Municipal elections for the city are held for Mayor and City Council positions. The community operates under a council-manager government with five council members elected by district and a directly-elected mayor serving four-year terms. Council elections are staggered, with some seats up in November of even-numbered years. The next municipal elections are scheduled for 2024 and 2026, with specific seats determined by the election cycle. Local ballot measures addressing city taxes, bonds, or ordinances may also appear. Candidate filing information and local measures are posted on the city website at https://www.madera.gov and through the Madera County elections office. Residents can find their assigned polling place by visiting the California Secretary of State's polling place lookup at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place or by contacting the county Registrar of Voters. California is a vote-by-mail state, with all registered voters automatically receiving mail ballots for each election. Voters may return mail ballots by USPS (postmarked by Election Day), at secure drop boxes throughout Madera County, or at any vote center. In-person voting is available at vote centers during early voting periods and on Election Day. Under California law, voter registration data (excluding birthdates, driver's license numbers, and Social Security numbers) is public record available for election-related purposes. Campaign finance disclosure reports are required for candidates and committees, accessible through the California Secretary of State's Cal-Access system at http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov and local filings with the City Clerk. Candidate statements and ballot measure arguments are public records. Election results by precinct are published by the Registrar of Voters after certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Madera County reported voter turnout of approximately 52-56% of registered voters, with results showing competitive races reflecting the area's swing-voter characteristics. Presidential, congressional, and state legislative results are available on the Madera County elections website. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature critical races for California voters including the gubernatorial election (Governor Gavin Newsom's term expires in 2027, making this a major statewide race), all 80 State Assembly seats, 20 of the 40 State Senate seats, and numerous statewide offices including Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Insurance Commissioner. No U.S. Senate seat from California is scheduled for election in 2026 (next in 2028). County voters will decide contested races for county supervisors (specific districts depending on rotation), Sheriff-Coroner, District Attorney, Assessor, Auditor-Controller, and other county offices. City municipal races may include mayor and city council seats depending on term expirations. Voters should check https://www.maderacounty.com/government/registrar-of-voters for certified candidate lists and local ballot measures beginning in summer 2026. California voters can request vote-by-mail ballots (though all registered voters receive them automatically) by contacting the Registrar of Voters or updating preferences online. Military and overseas voters can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) for ballot delivery via mail, email, or fax. Vote-by-mail ballots are mailed beginning 29 days before each election. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days to be counted, or deposited at drop boxes by 8:00 PM on Election Day.