Twain Harte, California Public Records

During emergencies and complex cases, the two departments pool resources to ensure coverage across the county, with the Sheriff's Office maintaining broader countywide responsibilities while Sonora Police focus on the incorporated city.

Residents, title companies, and researchers can access these public records by visiting the Recorder's Office in person at the Tuolumne County seat in Sonora, or by submitting requests online or through the mail. Both offices play essential roles in documenting property ownership and transactions in this mountain resort community.

California voters can register online through the Secretary of State's website at registertovote.ca.gov, with a standard deadline of 15 days before any election. However, the state offers conditional voter registration that allows eligible citizens to register and vote up through Election Day itself at the Tuolumne 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. Because the community is unincorporated, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Instead, residents vote in Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors elections, with the area located in District 5. County Supervisor elections occur in even-numbered years on a rotating schedule, with some districts voting during presidential election years and others in midterm cycles. Residents also cast ballots for state legislative positions - currently California State Assembly District 5 and State Senate District 8 based on the most recent redistricting - along with statewide offices and federal positions. Local voters can locate their assigned polling place or vote center using the lookup tool at www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/elections or by calling the Elections Department directly. While California has transitioned to the Voters Choice Act in many counties, voters should verify current voting options with Tuolumne County. Every registered voter in California now receives a vote-by-mail ballot automatically, which can be returned by mail if postmarked by Election Day, deposited in an official drop box, or brought to any vote center or polling place in Tuolumne County. In the November 2024 presidential election, Tuolumne County reported approximately 56% voter turnout among registered voters, with roughly 24,000 ballots cast from about 43,000 registered voters. The county historically leans Republican in most elections, though individual races show variation. Election results are posted by precinct on the Elections Department website, typically beginning on election night with regular updates as vote-by-mail and provisional ballots are processed over the following days. For the November 3, 2026 general election, voters in the area will decide several important races. At the state level, California will elect a Governor, as Gavin Newsom's current term expires in 2027, along with Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, and Board of Equalization members. All 80 State Assembly seats and 20 of the 40 State Senate seats will appear on the ballot. California will also elect a U.S. Senator in 2026, as one of the state's two Senate seats comes up for election. At the Tuolumne County level, various Tuolumne County Supervisor districts may have elections depending on the rotation schedule, along with positions such as Sheriff, District Attorney, Assessor, and other county offices that come up in four-year cycles. Voters should check with the Elections Department closer to the election for confirmed local races and ballot measures. California maintains extensive public election records, though voter registration information is not fully public. The voter file contains names and addresses but not birthdates or driver's license numbers, and access is restricted to specific purposes under state law. Campaign finance records are public and searchable through the California Fair Political Practices Commission at www.fppc.ca.gov for state and county candidates. Candidate statements, nomination papers, and local ballot measure filings are available for review at the County Elections office. Precinct-level election results are published after each election. To request vote-by-mail ballot status or a replacement ballot, voters can contact the Elections Department at (209) 533-5570 or check their status online through the Tuolumne County website.