Union City, California Public Records

California's Secretary of State operates an online portal at registertovote.ca.gov where eligible voters can complete their registration. The deadline falls 15 days before any election, though the state offers same-day conditional voter registration at vote centers and county elections offices during early voting and on Election Day. Registration requires either a California driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. The state permits 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register if they'll turn 18 by the next election. Basic eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship, California residency, being at least 18 by Election Day, and not currently imprisoned or on parole for a felony conviction. Municipal elections for mayor and city council seats follow a regular schedule in Union City. The community operates under a council-manager form of government with a directly elected mayor and six council members representing specific districts. Elections occur in November of even-numbered years, consolidated with state and federal contests. The next municipal election arrives November 3, 2026, when voters will decide council seats for Districts 1, 3, and 5—terms are staggered across the districts. Information about local candidates, campaign finance filings, and ballot measures is available through the City Clerk's Office at 34009 Alvarado-Niles Road and online at www.unioncity.org/clerk. Finding a polling location has evolved under California's Voter's Choice Act model, now implemented in Alameda County. Residents can visit www.acvote.org and use the "Where to Vote" lookup tool by entering their residential address. The new system provides vote centers that open for multiple days before Election Day—typically 10 days in advance—allowing any county voter to cast a ballot at any vote center regardless of where they live. All registered voters automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot approximately 29 days before each election. California law makes certain election records publicly accessible. Voter registration lists, excluding birth dates and driver's license numbers, are available to candidates, political parties, and committees for election purposes. Campaign finance reports filed by candidates and committees become public records searchable at www.acvote.org and cal-access.sos.ca.gov. Candidate declarations and statements of qualifications are also public documents. Precinct-level election results get posted online after certification. Individual voter history—showing which elections a person voted in, but not their choices—is public information, while actual ballot selections remain secret. The November 2024 presidential election saw Alameda County report approximately 62-65% voter turnout, with over 550,000 ballots cast from roughly 900,000 registered voters. Union City's turnout matched county averages, with strong participation in the presidential race and state propositions. November 3, 2026 will bring several important races to Union City and Alameda County voters. The Governor of California appears on the ballot in this gubernatorial election year—Governor Gavin Newsom's term ends in January 2027, though he's term-limited. All 80 Assembly seats and 20 odd-numbered Senate seats in the California State Legislature will be contested. Local voters will elect representatives to the State Assembly (15th District) and State Senate (10th District). County offices on the ballot may include Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 4, which encompasses the city, plus countywide positions like District Attorney, Sheriff, and Assessor depending on term schedules. Local races include Union City Council Districts 1, 3, and 5. California's 14th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives will also be decided. The U.S. Senate seat currently held by Alex Padilla appears on the ballot in 2026 as a Class I seat. Voters should check www.acvote.org closer to the election for the complete candidate list and local ballot measures. Requesting vote-by-mail status can be done through online registration, by mail, or in person at the Registrar of Voters office. Since 2020, all registered California voters automatically receive mail-in ballots for every election. Ballots go out approximately 29 days before Election Day. Completed ballots can be returned by mail if postmarked by Election Day, deposited in official drop boxes located throughout the city and county until 8 PM on Election Day, or returned in person to any vote center. Voters can track their ballot status at www.acvote.org using the "Where's My Ballot?" tool.