Stanford, California Public Records

Bail can be posted in accordance with California's bail schedule, allowing for the release of detainees pending trial. Recent arrestees can be located by contacting the jail directly or using the online resources provided by the county.

The Stanford University Department of Public Safety is responsible for maintaining public safety on the university campus and surrounding areas. The department responds to emergency calls, investigates crimes, and enforces local laws. In addition, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services to the broader Stanford community beyond the university campus.

Stanford residents vote in elections administered by the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, located at 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, CA 95112; phone (408) 299-8683; website https://www.sccvote.org. This office handles all aspects of voter registration, election administration, ballot counting, and election records for the unincorporated Stanford area and all of Santa Clara County. The Registrar of Voters office is open weekdays and provides extended hours before elections.

California residents, including those living in Stanford, can register to vote online through the California Secretary of State's website at https://registertovote.ca.gov. California offers same-day voter registration (called Conditional Voter Registration) through Election Day at vote centers and the Registrar's office. To register, individuals must be U.S. citizens, California residents, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not currently serving a state prison sentence for a felony conviction. California does not require voter ID for registration if registering online with a driver's license or state ID number. The voter registration deadline for most elections is 15 days before Election Day, though conditional registration extends through Election Day itself.

Because Stanford is unincorporated with no city government, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Stanford residents vote in Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors elections (District 5 represents the Stanford area), California State Assembly and State Senate races, U.S. Congressional elections (California's 16th Congressional District), and statewide offices. Stanford University students who claim California residency may register using their campus address, though many maintain registration in their home states.

Stanford voters can find their assigned polling location or vote center through the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters website at https://www.sccvote.org/find-my-polling-place by entering their address. California has transitioned to a Vote Center model in Santa Clara County, meaning voters can visit any vote center in the county during the early voting period or on Election Day, not just their assigned precinct. Vote centers open 11 days before Election Day with extended hours.

Election records that are public in California include voter registration lists (available for purchase for political purposes under California Elections Code Section 2188), campaign finance disclosures filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (searchable at http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov), candidate statements and declarations of candidacy, and precinct-level election results. Individual voter history (which elections a person voted in, but not how they voted) is also public. The Santa Clara County Registrar publishes detailed election results by precinct and vote center on their website.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Santa Clara County reported approximately 68% voter turnout among registered voters, with roughly 750,000 ballots cast out of approximately 1.1 million registered voters. Stanford's specific turnout figures are included within these county totals.

The November 3, 2026 general election will be critical for Stanford and Santa Clara County voters. On the ballot will be races for California Governor (Gavin Newsom's term expires in 2027, so the 2026 election determines his successor or reelection), all statewide constitutional offices including Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and State Controller, California State Senate and Assembly seats, and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors positions (District 5 which includes Stanford will be up for election). Additionally, one U.S. Senate seat will be on the ballot—California has two senators, and the Class III seat (currently held by Alex Padilla) will be contested in 2026. Various ballot measures addressing state and county issues are also expected. Local school board races and special district elections may also appear on Stanford voters' ballots.

California is a universal vote-by-mail state. All registered voters automatically receive mail ballots starting 29 days before each election. Stanford residents can return mail ballots via U.S. Mail (postmarked by Election Day), at official ballot drop boxes located throughout Santa Clara County (including locations near Stanford such as at the Palo Alto libraries), or in person at any vote center. Voters can also request replacement ballots or vote in person at vote centers if they prefer. California allows ballot tracking through the "Where's My Ballot?" system at https://wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov, which sends notifications when ballots are mailed, received, and counted.