What to know about California’s Prop 50 special election

Voters across the state have until Monday, October 20, to register for the November 4 Statewide Special Election, where they will decide on Proposition 50, a measure proposing temporary redistricting of California’s congressional districts.

What is Proposition 50?

Proposition 50 is a legislatively approved constitutional amendment that would allow temporary congressional district maps in California starting in 2026. According to the measure’s text, the temporary maps are intended to respond to partisan redistricting efforts in Republican-led states, including Texas, Florida, and Ohio, with the goal of ensuring fair representation for California communities.

Supporters, including Governor Gavin Newsom, have described the measure as a way to counter mid-decade redistricting efforts elsewhere that could expand Republican control in Congress.

A “Yes” vote would implement the new legislative maps for the next election cycle. A “No” vote would maintain the current maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission until the 2030 Census prompts new lines. Counties would incur one-time costs of up to a few million dollars to update election materials.

Who can vote and how?

All active registered voters in California will receive a vote-by-mail ballot. Ballots began mailing on October 6, 2025, and drop-off locations opened on October 7. Voters can return ballots by mail, at a drop-off location, or at their county elections office.

Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, November 4, and received by November 12 to be counted. Voters can track their ballot using the Where’s My Ballot tool on the Secretary of State’s website.

How do I register to vote?

The last day to register for the election is October 20, 2025. Registration can be completed online at the California Secretary of State’s website.

If you miss the deadline, same-day voter registration is available at county election offices and vote centers through Election Day. Voters registering on the same day will be given a provisional ballot, which is counted once registration is verified.

Where and when can I vote in person?

Vote centers are open for early in-person voting on October 25, 2025. At these locations, voters can:

• Drop off a mail-in ballot
• Register to vote
• Cast their ballot in person

On Election Day, November 4, vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for in-person voting. Voters may go to any vote center in their county.

Locate your nearest vote center online.

How do I return my vote-by-mail ballot?

1. Fill out your ballot completely, checking both sides.
2. Place it in the provided return envelope.
3. Sign and date the envelope, ensuring your signature matches the one on your driver’s license/ID or one provided when registering to vote. Election officials will compare the signature on your envelope to the signature on file.

Ballots can be returned by:

• Mailing the signed envelope
• Dropping it in a county ballot dropbox
• Delivering it to a vote center

Election officials encourage voters to return ballots early to ensure they are counted. To find the nearest drop box, click here.

How can I check if my ballot was received and counted?

After returning your ballot — whether by mail or at a drop box — you can confirm it was received and tallied using California’s Vote-by-Mail Status Tool. The online tracker allows voters to see when their ballot was mailed, received, and counted by their county elections office.

Need assistance?

If you need help registering to vote or finding your voting location, contact your county elections office or call the California Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683). For Spanish speakers, call (800) 232-VOTA (8682), and for assistance in other languages, go to the official page. 

For additional information, visit the California Secretary of State’s elections website.