California voters will decide in a special election whether the state will adopt a new congressional district map that seeks to increase the state's Democratic representation in the US House of Representatives by 5 seats.

The special election includes only one measure, Proposition 50, which is a proposal to temporarily redraw California's congressional district lines for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections.

Proposition 50 is a legislatively passed constitutional amendment to temporarily allow for the redistricting of California's congressional districts beginning in 2026, which is now put to the voters in this special election.

According to the amendment, the temporary maps are intended to respond to partisan redistricting efforts in Republican-led states, such as as Texas, Florida, and Ohio, with the goal of ensuring fair representation for California communities.

Proposition 50 is part of a larger national struggle in which efforts in several states are attempting to redistrict their districts to favor one party over another, known as gerrymandering.

Vote by Mail and Early Voting at Polling Places

Voters have the right to return their completed vote-by-mail ballot to any polling place or drop box in the state, the California Secretary of State's Office reported.

They can also return their ballots by mail, as long as they are postmarked no later than Election Day, November 4.

In 29 counties with flexible voting rights, it is also possible to vote in person or return a ballot to a polling place starting 10 days before the election. For this special election, this means polling places will open for early voting starting Saturday, October 25.

These are the participating counties: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Merced, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Ventura and Yolo.

New poll finds growing support for Proposition 50

A new Emerson College Polling survey of California voters released Friday finds that 57 percent of likely voters support Proposition 50, which authorizes temporary changes to the state's congressional maps, while 37 percent oppose it. Including undecided voters, the measure rises to 60% support and 40% opposition.

“With less than two weeks until California's special election for Proposition 50, the measure appears likely to pass, with results once again exceeding the poll's margin of error,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.

“Certain demographic groups that were hesitant to support the measure last month have decided to support Proposition 50, such as Black voters, whose support increased from 45% to 71%,” said Kimball.

Regardless of how Californians plan to vote, 56% of likely voters considered the measure a good idea, while 44% considered it a bad idea.

Compared to September, the number of likely voters who think the measure is a good idea increased four points from 52%, while those who say which is a bad idea decreased by four points from 48%.