It’s election season in California again.
California voters have been asked, in this rather recently called special election, whether to implement new, partisan congressional maps for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections. That would mean forgoing the current maps drawn by a 14-member group comprising five Republicans, five Democrats, and four commissioners not affiliated with the two major parties.
The idea only impacts congressional races. And it’s a partisan one, an effort to favor Democrats in California’s congressional elections as a way to counter similar, Republican-led plans elsewhere in the country to boost the GOP.
All about Prop. 50 | How will your congressional district change? | Key dates in the 2025 special election | Inland Empire’s major changes | Los Angeles County’s major changes | Orange County’s major changes | Voting FAQs | Find your ballot box | Ask a question
What is Prop. 50 asking?
Voters are asked to mark yes or no to a constitutional amendment that “authorizes temporary changes to congressional district maps in response to Texas’ partisan redistricting.”
The ballot measure goes on to say it “requires temporary use of new congressional district maps through 2030. Directs independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to resume enacting congressional district maps in 2031. Establishes policy supporting nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide.”
Put simply, voters are asked whether they support, by marking yes or no on Measure 50, enacting new, partisan congressional district boundary maps for the next three elections (2026, 2028 and 2030) and then reverting back to maps drawn by an independent group of people.
Find the Official Voter Information Guide from the secretary of state’s office here. It includes a summary of Prop. 50, arguments for and against, and contact information for supporters and opponents. It’s available in Chinese, English, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese.
What is redistricting?
Redistricting refers to the process that determines the boundaries for electoral districts for Congress, the state legislature and other elected offices, including the State Board of Equalization in California.
More simply speaking, it’s the drawing of maps. Then, voters use those maps to learn, based on where they live, which districts they can vote in for certain elections, including for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Why is this election happening now?
If you’re wondering if we recently did restricting, you’re not wrong.
Generally, redistricting happens every 10 years — so, the last go-round was in 2020 — after new census data paints a better picture of the population and who is living where.
States have differing processes for how these boundaries, or maps, are drawn, but in California, it’s up to a group of commissioners who draw the maps based on what is best for voter representation, not partisan politics. It’s a complicated and lenghty process, and the commissioners hold hearings and collect public input on maps, as well as analyze census data, geographic boundaries, neighborhoods, minority populations and more.
However, a few Republican-led states — notably, Missouri and Texas — have moved forward with mid-cycle redistricting at the behest of President Donald Trump, who has put pressure on red states to adjust their congressional boundary lines to benefit the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans now control the White House, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, but midterm elections generally favor the party not in charge; that would suggest the Democratic Party for 2026.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, in calling for the special election, said the gerrymandering effort in California is meant to counter similar partisan efforts in those Republican states.
Who are the key players?
Gov. Gavin Newsom: The Democratic governor has been leading the “Yes on 50” effort known as the Election Rigging Response Act campaign. His ballot measure committee had raised nearly $77.5 million through Sept. 20, according to campaign finance records. A regular target of Trump, Newsom is widely considered a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential election. His role in the country’s current redistricting war has helped raise his national profile in recent months.
Paul Mitchell: This political data analyst and redistricting expert, who owns the firm Redistricting Partners, drew the proposed congressional maps that Californians will approve or reject during the special election. Although he was hired by Democrats to draw the proposed maps, Mitchell is not part of the “Yes on 50” group or any campaign related to Prop. 50.
Charles Munger Jr.: This wealthy Republican megadonor is bankrolling the “Protect Voters First” anti-Prop. 50 campaign, one of two major campaigns working to defeat the measure. The group had raised nearly $30.1 million through Sept. 20, with Munger as the primary donor, having spent $30 million before ballots were sent to voters. He was also a major backer of the 2008 and 2010 ballot measures that established independent redistricting for California legislative and congressional districts.
Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy: The former Republican House speaker from the Central Valley is working with Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab, the anti-Prop. 50 campaign run by former California Republican Party Chair Jessica Millan Patterson. Among the group’s early, big donations was $5 million from the Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC for House Republicans.
How do I even find my congressional district?
You can find who represents you in Congress — and what district you live in — through the House’s website.
Just input your ZIP code, and you may also need to enter your street address, to determine your representative and congressional district.
Also read:
- What is redistricting? Your questions about maps, California’s feud with Texas and more, answered
- Maps: New California congressional districts, proposed by House Democrats
Will your congressional district change if voters pass Prop. 50?
Use this map by inputting your address to find out if your congressional district would change should redistricting pass in November. The map was created by CalMatters.
Key dates
Every active registered voter in California will receive a ballot in the mail. They can be returned through the mail, at a drop-off location, or at the voter’s county elections office.
- Oct. 6: County elections office will begin mailing out Nov. 4 ballots by this date.
- Oct. 7: Ballot drop-off boxes open.
- Oct. 20: Last day to register to vote online for the special election. After Oct. 20, you will need to do same-day voter registration and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.
- Oct. 25: Vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties.
- Nov. 4: Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you’re in line by 8 p.m., you can still vote. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked no later than this date.
- Nov. 12: Deadline to receive and count all vote-by-mail ballots that were postmarked on or before Election Day.
Proposed changes to the Inland Empire’s congressional districts
A divide-and-conquer ethos could shape the Inland Empire’s representation in Congress. Maps for new House of Representatives districts would dilute — if not outright erase — GOP voters’ influence in Riverside County by splitting up red cities that form a backbone of support for Republicans Ken Calvert of Corona and Darrell Issa of San Diego County. If approved by voters, Prop. 50 would obliterate Calvert’s purple district, potentially jeopardizing his three-decade run on Capitol Hill. Issa would go from a safe red district to one with a plurality of Democratic voters.
The new maps drawn leave existing districts in San Bernardino County relatively untouched.
See more of the major changes here
Also read:
- Redistricting special election will cost San Bernardino County almost $25 million
- Counties will be paid upfront for special redistricting election, California official says
Proposed changes to Los Angeles County’s congressional districts
California’s proposed congressional maps would turn Los Angeles County’s most competitive congressional district bluer. And that would theoretically make it easier for the first-term Democratic Rep. George Whitesides to win re-election in 2026.
On the flip side, a San Fernando Valley district represented by Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman would gain Republican voters as it picks up more of Ventura County, including Simi Valley. Similarly, Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia‘s district in south L.A. County would be reconfigured to include parts of Orange County, making that district less blue.
See more of the major changes here.
Also read:
- LA County’s Hilda Solis is running for Congress — if redistricting passes
- Counties will be paid upfront for special redistricting election, California official says
Proposed changes to Orange County’s congressional districts
The proposed maps would mean Huntington Beach and Newport Beach share a district with Long Beach. Brea and La Habra move into a snaking district in Los Angeles County centered on Downey. The district that includes Laguna Beach stretches to include Dana Point.
With more cities folded into districts primarily based in Los Angeles County, Orange County would see the number of lawmakers who represent at least a portion of the county grow from six to eight.
See more of the major changes here.
Also read:
- How California redistricting could impact congressional elections in Orange County
- Counties will be paid upfront for special redistricting election, California official says
Voting FAQs
Can I check to see if my ballot has been received and counted?
The secretary of state’s office has a “Where’s My Ballot” tracking tool. Found at california.ballottrax.net, you input your name, date of birth and ZIP code to register for the service. It will tell you the status of your ballot, and you can sign up to receive information about your ballot’s process via email, text message or call.
Your county elections office may also have a tool to track your ballot.
I missed the registration deadline. Can I still vote?
California has something called “conditional voter registration” or “same day voter registration.”
This allows eligible Californians to register to vote and cast what’s called a conditional ballot. Those are “processed and counted once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process,” according to the secretary of state’s office.
You can do this at your county election offices or specific polling locations. To find the nearest one to you, check the secretary of state’s website at sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place.
You can also check your voter registration status by contacting your county registrar’s office, checking at a vote center or visiting sos.ca.gov/elections/registration-status.
I’ve misplaced the ballot that I got in the mail. How can I still vote?
If you didn’t receive your ballot in the mail, or it’s been lost or destroyed, you can get a replacement at your local county elections office or a vote center, where you can also vote in person.
You can only request a replacement ballot for yourself.
If you’ve still got your ballot, though, there are three ways you can cast it: Return it via the U.S. Postal Service (no postage is required, but it must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and received by your county elections office no later than seven days after the election), place it in a drop box around the county or take it to a vote center.
If I am homeless, can I still vote?
Yes, people experiencing homelessness — who are eligible voters — still have a right to vote.
You’ll just need to have an address where you spend most of your time, like a shelter, or a general location, such as a park or cross streets, so that your county elections office can determine your voting precinct.
You can find more information on the secretary of state’s website.
When is the deadline to vote?
You can vote as soon as you’ve got your ballot, and those must be returned to a drop box or voting location by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
If you’re still in line to vote when the polls are scheduled to close on Election Day (8 p.m.), you are still allowed to vote. Poll workers are instructed, per the secretary of state, to prohibit anyone who arrived after 8 p.m. from voting, but people who are still in line are still allowed to cast their ballot.
For those who choose to mail back their ballot, though, they must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and received by your county elections office by Nov. 12.
If you’re concerned about your ballot making it back on time, you can always place your filled-out ballot in a drop box or take it to a vote center on Nov. 4.
Find your ballot box
Here you can find links to country registrars’ maps of where you can drop off your ballot if you don’t want to place it in the mail, including drop boxes and vote centers. Continue to check back as some maps may not be available for a few days.
- Orange County
- Los Angeles County
- Riverside County
- San Bernardino County
Keep up with the 2025 special election
Want to stay up-to-date on the latest election news? Down Ballot is a curated newsletter that breaks down how decisions made in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., impact Southern California, providing a behind-the-scenes look at how local government operates and keeping you up-to-date on the latest election news. To sign up, just go here and click on Down Ballot.
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