Portola Vally, California Public Records

The Portola Valley Police Department, a division of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, is responsible for law enforcement and public safety within the town. The police department's office is located at 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028. Residents can contact the department for non-emergency inquiries or to report incidents, while more serious crimes or emergencies should be directed to the county-wide 911 system.

Portola Valley voters are served by the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division, located at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402, phone (650) 312-5222, website https://www.shapethefuture.org/. This office administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Portola Valley residents, maintains voter registration rolls, processes mail-in ballots, and certifies election results. California residents can register to vote online at https://registertovote.ca.gov/ up to 15 days before an election, or use conditional voter registration to register and vote up through Election Day at the County Elections Office or any vote center. Registration requires providing a California driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number, plus residential address and date of birth. Portola Valley, as an incorporated town, holds municipal elections for Town Council seats and, periodically, ballot measures related to town finances or policies. The Town Council has five members serving staggered four-year terms, with elections held in even-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, consolidated with statewide general elections. The next Portola Valley municipal election will be held November 3, 2026, with three council seats expected on the ballot. Candidate filing information and local ballot measures are posted at Town Hall and on the town website at https://www.portolavalley.net/ approximately 120 days before the election. Portola Valley residents can find their assigned polling place (or vote center location, as San Mateo County has transitioned to a vote center model) by visiting https://www.shapethefuture.org/voter-information/find-your-polling-place/ or calling the Elections Division. Under California's Voter's Choice Act, San Mateo County provides multiple vote centers open for several days before and on Election Day, allowing voters to cast ballots at any center regardless of residence address. Election records that are public in California include voter registration data (names and addresses, though not party affiliation in certain contexts), campaign finance disclosure reports filed by candidates and committees (searchable at https://www.fppc.ca.gov/ for state candidates and locally for municipal candidates), candidate statements and declarations, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 presidential election, San Mateo County reported approximately 73% voter turnout with over 340,000 ballots cast, reflecting strong civic engagement. The November 3, 2026 election will feature several significant races for Portola Valley and San Mateo County voters: California does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026, but voters will decide races for Governor of California (Gavin Newsom's term expires in 2027, so the 2026 election will determine the next governor), all 80 California State Assembly seats including the district representing Portola Valley, half of the 40 California State Senate seats, and various statewide offices including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. County offices that may be on the ballot include San Mateo County Supervisor districts, Sheriff, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, and judges for the San Mateo County Superior Court. California offers universal vote-by-mail; all registered voters automatically receive a mail ballot approximately four weeks before each election. Voters may return mail ballots by U.S. mail (postmarked by Election Day), drop them in official ballot drop boxes located throughout the county, or return them to any vote center. Voters can also vote in person at vote centers during the voting period. Mail ballot status can be tracked online at https://www.wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov/. Portola Valley's municipal election information, including candidate statements and local measures, is distributed through the County Elections Division's voter information guide and posted at Town Hall.