O Neals, California Public Records

Residents can register to vote online at https://registertovote.ca.gov, California's official voter registration portal managed by the Secretary of State. Registration deadlines are 15 days before each election for standard registration, though California also offers conditional voter registration allowing eligible citizens to register and vote up through Election Day at designated locations. To register, California residents must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for a felony conviction. Identification is required when voting in person for the first time. Because O'Neals is an unincorporated community, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Residents vote in Madera County Board of Supervisors elections, state legislative races, statewide offices, and federal contests. The county is divided into five supervisorial districts, and O'Neals falls within District 5. Supervisor elections are held on a rotating schedule, with some seats up in 2024, 2026, and 2028. School board elections for the Minarets Unified School District also appear on ballots for local voters. Residents can find their assigned polling place by visiting www.votemadera.com and using the polling place lookup tool, entering their home address. California has transitioned to the Voter's Choice Act in many counties, which replaces traditional precinct polling places with vote centers open for multiple days. Madera County implemented this model, meaning voters can cast ballots at any vote center in Madera County during the early voting period or on Election Day. Election records that are public in California include voter registration lists (available to qualified requesters for election purposes), campaign finance disclosure reports (filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission at www.fppc.ca.gov), candidate statements and filings, precinct-level election results, and ballot measure language. The Madera County Registrar publishes detailed election results by precinct on its website after each election. In the November 2024 presidential election, Madera County reported approximately 51% voter turnout among registered voters, with about 42,000 ballots cast out of roughly 82,000 registered voters. Turnout in rural areas like O'Neals tends to mirror county averages, with higher participation in presidential election years. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, voters in O'Neals and across Madera County will decide several important races. In California, 2026 is a gubernatorial election year, meaning voters will elect a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. There is no U.S. Senate seat up in California in 2026. Voters will also elect members of the California State Assembly and State Senate representing county districts. At the Madera County level, some Madera County Supervisor seats, countywide offices like Sheriff, District Attorney, Assessor, and Auditor-Controller may appear on the ballot depending on term schedules. School board and special district positions will also be on the ballot. Ballot measures addressing county issues or statewide initiatives may be included. California allows no-excuse vote-by-mail for all registered voters. Residents can request a mail ballot by contacting the Madera County Registrar at (559) 675-7720, submitting an application online at www.votemadera.com, or checking a box during voter registration. All registered voters in California now automatically receive mail ballots unless they opt out. Mail ballots can be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day), dropped in secure ballot drop boxes throughout Madera County, or delivered in person to the Registrar's office or any vote center.