Westlake Village, California Public Records

New registrations must be submitted or postmarked at least 15 days before an election. The state also offers Same Day Voter Registration, sometimes called conditional voter registration, during the 14-day period before Election Day and on Election Day itself at designated locations, allowing eligible residents to register and vote provisionally. The city operates as a general law city with a City Council-City Manager form of government. Five council members serve four-year staggered terms elected at-large, with the Mayor selected from among council members by rotation rather than direct election. Municipal elections fall in even-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, consolidated with statewide general elections. The next City Council election is scheduled for November 2026, when two or three council seats will appear on the ballot depending on the rotation schedule. Candidate filing typically opens in July and closes in August of election years at City Hall. Because the community straddles county lines, only residents in the incorporated portions on both the Ventura and Los Angeles County sides vote in municipal elections, creating a unique split-jurisdiction electorate of approximately 8,200 eligible voters across both counties. Residents can locate their assigned polling place through the Ventura County Elections website at www.venturavote.org using the "Find My Polling Place" tool, which requires entering a home address. Ventura County adopted the Voter's Choice Act model starting with the 2020 election. Under this system, voters receive mail-in ballots automatically and can vote at any Vote Center in Ventura County during the 10 days before Election Day and on Election Day itself, rather than being restricted to a single neighborhood polling place. Vote Centers are typically located at community centers, libraries, and government buildings including City Hall. In the November 2024 general election, Ventura County reported approximately 64.8% voter turnout among its 512,000 registered voters, with roughly 332,000 ballots cast countywide. Local precincts historically show higher participation rates, often exceeding 75% in presidential elections, reflecting the community's higher education levels and income. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, voters will decide several significant races. While California's U.S. Senate seats are not up for election in 2026 (next elections in 2028 for one seat), voters will elect a new Governor as Gavin Newsom is term-limited. All 80 State Assembly seats and 20 of the 40 State Senate seats will be on the ballot. The city is part of State Senate District 27 and Assembly District 44, though redistricting following the 2020 Census may have adjusted boundaries. Ventura County voters will also elect countywide offices including Sheriff-Coroner, District Attorney, Assessor, Auditor-Controller, and Board of Supervisors seats on staggered terms. Two or three City Council seats will be contested. Ballot measures may include local tax proposals, state constitutional amendments, and citizen initiatives. California is a universal vote-by-mail state. Every registered voter automatically receives a ballot mailed to their registered address beginning 29 days before Election Day. Voted mail ballots can be returned by U.S. Mail (no postage required as of 2020), dropped at official ballot drop boxes located throughout Ventura County including one at City Hall, or submitted in person at any Vote Center. Mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 7 days to be counted. California election records extensively available to the public include voter registration files showing names, addresses, party affiliation, and vote history though not vote choices, campaign finance disclosures through the California Fair Political Practices Commission at www.fppc.ca.gov showing contributions and expenditures for state and local candidates, candidate statements of qualifications and financial interest forms, precinct-level election results showing vote counts by geographic area, and ballot measure full text and fiscal impact analyses. The county elections office publishes detailed precinct results typically within 30 days of certification at www.venturavote.org.