Willits, California Public Records

Major employers in the 95490 ZIP code area include the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley medical center, the Willits Unified School District, and several prominent regional wineries and agricultural enterprises.

The Willits Police Department and the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office work collaboratively to ensure the safety and well-being of the local community. The Willits Police Department is responsible for law enforcement within the city limits, while the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office oversees the surrounding unincorporated areas. Residents and visitors can access arrest records, criminal histories, and other law enforcement-related information through these agencies, which play a vital role in maintaining the high quality of life enjoyed by the 4,968 individuals who call Willits home.

Willits voters are served by the Mendocino County Elections Office (officially the Mendocino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, Elections Division), located at 501 Low Gap Road, Room 1020, Ukiah, CA 95482 (phone: 707-234-6819, website: www.mendocinocounty.org/government/assessor-county-clerk-recorder/elections). This office administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Willits residents, including voter registration, ballot preparation, polling place management, vote counting, and results certification.

Willits residents register to vote online through the California Secretary of State's website at registertovote.ca.gov, which requires a California driver's license or ID card number. Voters may also register by mail using a paper form or in person at the County Elections Office. The deadline to register is 15 days before any election; California also offers conditional voter registration up through Election Day for those who missed the deadline. Voters 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.

Municipal elections for the City of Willits are held on the first Tuesday of November in even-numbered years, consolidated with statewide general elections. The Willits City Council consists of five members elected at-large to four-year staggered terms, with three seats up in one cycle and two in the next. The City Council selects a mayor from among its members annually. The next Willits City Council election is scheduled for November 2026, when either two or three council seats will be on the ballot depending on the rotation. Candidate filing information and local ballot measures specific to Willits are available through both the County Elections Office and City Hall (707-459-4601). Campaign finance disclosures for local candidates are filed with the City Clerk and are public records.

Willits voters find their assigned polling place using the County Elections Office polling place lookup tool at www.mendocinocounty.org/elections or by calling 707-234-6819. California is now a vote-by-mail state; all registered voters automatically receive a mail ballot approximately 29 days before each election. Mail ballots can be returned by U.S. mail (postmarked by Election Day), deposited in official drop boxes located throughout the county, or delivered in person to the Elections Office or any vote center. Vote centers (replacing traditional precinct polling places) are open for multiple days before Election Day and allow any county voter to cast a ballot regardless of residence location. Under California's Voter's Choice Act, Mendocino County transitioned to this model providing greater flexibility.

Public election records in California include voter registration data (names, addresses, party affiliation, voting history—but not vote choices), campaign finance reports through the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and local filing officers, candidate statements and declarations, precinct-level election results, and election certifications. The Mendocino County Elections Office provides election results on its website, typically available on election night with updated counts as vote-by-mail and provisional ballots are processed. Historical election data and results are maintained as public records.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Mendocino County reported approximately 55-58% voter turnout among registered voters, with county-level results showing competitive races. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, Willits and Mendocino County voters will decide several significant races. At the federal level, California's U.S. Senate seat (Class III) is not up in 2026; however, all California U.S. House seats, including District 2 which encompasses Mendocino County and much of Northern California, will be on the ballot. At the state level, all 80 California State Assembly seats and 20 of the 40 State Senate seats (even-numbered districts) will be contested, including local legislative districts representing Willits. County offices up for election in 2026 include various Mendocino County Supervisor seats (depending on district rotation), and potentially county-level offices such as Sheriff, District Attorney, Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, and Treasurer-Tax Collector if their terms expire. Willits City Council seats will also be on the ballot, with candidate filing opening approximately four months before the election. Voters should check with the County Elections Office or visit www.mendocinocounty.org/elections for confirmed candidate lists, local ballot measures, and voter information guides as the election approaches.