Tomales, California Public Records

Law enforcement in Tomales is provided by the Marin County Sheriff's Office. This agency is responsible for responding to emergency calls, investigating crimes, and maintaining public safety within the town. While the Tomales area generally experiences low crime rates, the Sheriff's Office works closely with local residents to address any issues that may arise. Individuals in Tomales can contact the Sheriff's Office to report incidents, access crime statistics, or inquire about community policing initiatives.

Tomales voters are served by the Marin County Department of Elections, officially known as the Marin County Registrar of Voters, located at 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 121, San Rafael, CA 94903, phone (415) 473-6456, website https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv. The Registrar manages voter registration, conducts federal, state, county, and local elections, maintains voter rolls, and provides polling place information and vote-by-mail services for all Marin County residents, including those in unincorporated Tomales. Tomales residents can register to vote online at https://registertovote.ca.gov, California's statewide voter registration portal. The registration deadline is 15 days before any election, though California offers conditional voter registration up to and including Election Day at the County Elections Office or any vote center. Voters must provide a California driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Because Tomales is unincorporated and does not have its own city government, there are no Tomales-specific mayoral or city council elections. Instead, residents vote in Marin County Supervisor races (District 5 represents the West Marin area including Tomales), California State Assembly District 10, California State Senate District 2, and federal elections for U.S. House (District 2) and U.S. Senate. Tomales voters can find their assigned polling place or vote center by visiting https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/voting-info/polling-places or using the California statewide tool at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place. Marin County has adopted the Voter's Choice Act, providing vote centers open multiple days before Election Day, allowing any registered Marin voter to cast a ballot at any center. In the November 2024 presidential election, Marin County reported approximately 74% voter turnout, reflecting high civic engagement typical of the county. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Tomales and Marin County voters will decide races including California Governor, all constitutional offices, State Senate and Assembly seats, U.S. House District 2, and Marin County offices including Sheriff, District Attorney, Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, and Board of Supervisors (depending on district cycle). Statewide ballot measures and local county measures may also appear. California law makes certain election records public, including voter registration lists (available to candidates and committees under strict rules), campaign finance disclosures searchable at http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov, candidate statements and filings, and precinct-level election results published by the Secretary of State and county Registrar. To request an absentee or vote-by-mail ballot, Tomales voters can apply online at https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/vote-by-mail, by phone, or by mail; California automatically mails ballots to all registered voters under current law, with ballots arriving approximately four weeks before Election Day. Voted ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days, or dropped at official ballot drop boxes by 8 PM on Election Day.