Redwood Valley, California Public Records

Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with extended hours before elections. California residents, including those in the community, can register to vote online at https://registertovote.ca.gov, the official state portal maintained by the California Secretary of State. Voters must be U.S. Citizens, California residents, at least 18 years old by election day, and not currently serving a state or federal prison term for a felony conviction. The state offers Same Day Voter Registration, allowing eligible citizens to register and vote conditionally at vote centers and county elections offices through Election Day. The standard registration deadline is 15 days before an election for those registering by mail or online. California does not require voter ID for most voters, though first-time voters who registered by mail may need to provide identification. Voters can check their registration status, update their address, or re-register after moving at the same online portal. As an unincorporated community, Redwood Valley does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council, since there is no incorporated city government. Instead, residents vote in Mendocino County Board of Supervisors elections - the area falls within one of the five supervisorial districts - along with California State Assembly and State Senate races, U.S. Congressional elections (California's 2nd Congressional District), statewide offices, and ballot measures. County Supervisor elections are held on a rotating basis with four-year terms. Residents also vote on special district matters including the Redwood Valley-Calpella County Water District and school board elections for the Redwood Valley Unified School District, which holds elections for governing board members. Local voters can find their assigned polling place by visiting the California Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place or by contacting the Mendocino County Elections Department directly. California has transitioned to a Vote Center model in many counties, offering flexible voting locations where any registered voter in Mendocino County can cast a ballot during early voting periods and on Election Day, though Mendocino County may still use traditional precinct-based polling places. Voters should verify their specific voting location before each election. California makes extensive election records available to the public. Voter registration information is available in limited form; while individual voting history, whether someone voted, not how they voted, is generally confidential, voter lists can be obtained for political purposes under strict conditions. Campaign finance records are publicly searchable through the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) at http://www.fppc.ca.gov for state and county candidates, showing contributions and expenditures. Candidate statements, nomination papers, and ballot measure materials are available through the County Elections Office and online. Precinct-level election results are posted after certification at https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/assessor-county-clerk-recorder/elections-division/election-results. The county historically leans Democratic in presidential elections, though results vary by district and race type. California's Senate seats will include one election for the Class III seat currently held by Alex Padilla (regular election cycle). Locally, one or more Mendocino County Supervisor seats may be on the ballot depending on the district rotation, along with potential county measures, school board elections, and special district governance positions. Candidate filing for the 2026 election will begin in early 2026. California is a universal vote-by-mail state, meaning every registered voter automatically receives a mail ballot for every election. Residents will receive their ballot approximately 29 days before Election Day at their registered address. Voted mail ballots can be returned by U.S. Mail (postmarked by Election Day and received within 7 days), dropped at official ballot drop boxes throughout Mendocino County, or delivered in person to the Elections Office or any vote center. Voters can also choose to vote in person at vote centers during early voting periods or on Election Day. Ballot tracking is available through the state's "Where's My Ballot?" system at https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/, which sends notifications when a ballot is mailed, received, and counted.