Redwood City, California Public Records

Standard office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with extended availability before elections. California voters can register online at https://registertovote.ca.gov up to 15 days before an election. The state also provides conditional voter registration, allowing eligible citizens to register and cast a provisional ballot up through Election Day at the San Mateo County elections office or designated vote centers. Registration requirements include U.S. Citizenship, California residency, a minimum age of 18 by Election Day, and no current imprisonment or parole for a felony conviction. While party affiliation is optional, registering with a party preference enables participation in that party's primary elections. As an incorporated municipality, the city holds its own elections for City Council and Mayor. The Council consists of seven at-large members serving four-year terms, while the Mayor is directly elected for a two-year term. Council elections take place in even-numbered years with alternating cycles that typically put three or four seats before voters. The next municipal election is scheduled for November 2026, when residents will choose both the Mayor and several Council seats. These races are non-partisan, meaning no party labels appear beside candidate names on the ballot. Campaign finance disclosures, candidate information, and local ballot measures are available through the City Clerk's Office at Redwood City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA 94063. The Clerk can be reached at 650-780-7220 or through https://www.redwoodcity.org/city-hall/city-clerk. This office also maintains precinct-level results for municipal races. Voters can locate their assigned polling place, vote center, or ballot drop box by visiting https://www.smcacre.org/elections and using the "Where to Vote" tool, or by checking the back of the Sample Ballot booklet mailed before each election. San Mateo County now operates under a vote center model established by California's Voter's Choice Act, meaning voters can cast ballots at any county vote center on Election Day rather than being restricted to a single assigned precinct. Vote centers open several days before Election Day for early voting. California operates as a universal vote-by-mail state, automatically sending every registered voter a ballot approximately four weeks before Election Day. Completed ballots can be returned via postage-paid mail (postmarked by Election Day), deposited in official ballot drop boxes throughout San Mateo County, or delivered in person to any vote center. Voters needing a replacement ballot should contact the San Mateo County Elections Division. Ballot tracking is available at https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/, where voters can sign up for notifications when their ballot is mailed, received, and counted. The November 2024 presidential election saw approximately 68-70% turnout among registered voters in San Mateo County, reflecting the engaged electorate typical of the area. Precinct-level results for the county are published at https://www.smcacre.org/elections. The November 3, 2026 general election will present significant contests for local voters. The Governor's office is up for election in 2026, along with Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and other statewide constitutional offices. All 80 California State Assembly seats and 20 of the 40 State Senate seats will appear on the ballot. Residents will elect members of the State Assembly (District 21 or 24 depending on redistricting) and State Senate (District 11 or 13). One U.S. Senate seat may be contested in 2026 depending on the election cycle (Class I was up in 2024, Class III comes in 2028; special elections can occur if vacancies arise). All 52 of California's U.S. House seats face election every two years; the city falls within Congressional District 15 or 16. San Mateo County offices on the 2026 ballot include County Supervisor (Districts 2 and 4 in regular rotation), Sheriff-Coroner, Assessor-Clerk-Recorder, Treasurer-Tax Collector, and District Attorney. Municipal voters will also decide the Mayor's race and City Council seats. School board elections for the Redwood City School District and Sequoia Union High School District will round out the ballot. Public election records in California include voter registration files, available for purchase by qualified persons under California Elections Code Section 2188 for political purposes. Campaign finance disclosure statements, Form 460, 496, 497, and others, filed by candidates and committees can be searched at http://www.fppc.ca.gov and through the City Clerk for municipal candidates. Candidate statements of qualifications, nomination papers, and official election results by precinct are all part of the public record. The San Mateo County Elections Division publishes results at https://www.smcacre.org/elections, breaking down vote totals by precinct, vote center, and vote-by-mail. Historical election data and voter turnout statistics are maintained and available upon request.