Rebeca Arellano, a Mexican woman, was tasked with delivering the ballot to Maria Bowers Montano, an Anglo-Saxon woman who has lived in Mexico for several years but didn't want to miss participating in the special election on November 4 in California.

“When Maria, who is my neighbor, my friend, and an elderly person, learned that I was coming to California for the wedding of a very close relative, she asked me "I asked her to deliver her ballot. She signed and filled it out; I just have to sign as the person responsible for its delivery and take it to the ballot drop box," Rebeca said. She explained that her neighbor spent an entire day at the US Embassy in Mexico City trying to find a way to vote from there, but it was all in vain since there was no way to do so. “She has a house in Sacramento, and she received the ballot by mail. They sent it to her in Mexico City, she filled it out with her vote, signed it, and asked me to deliver it,” Rebeca said. “I'm happy and very pleased to be able to help her because my neighbor is a responsible person regarding what happens in her country, and she's always very well-informed,” she added. On Tuesday, November 4, a special election will be held in California in which voters will have to answer yes or no to a single question posed by Proposition 50.

This measure asks voters to temporarily discard the state-independently drawn congressional district lines in favor of new, divided maps to help Democrats win five additional secure seats.

It is a response to the state of Texas, where Republicans gained five new districts earlier this year.

“We are all confused about what will be on the ballot on Tuesday, November 4. The majority of voters don't understand what's going on. But it is crucial to vote because our future representation as Latinos is at stake,” said Lucero, who asked that her full name not be used because she works for the California state legislature, and who voted several weeks ago.

“It gives me a lot of hope that this initiative will be approved,” Lucero said.

He reminded everyone that it is a one-question ballot, and those who have not yet submitted their ballot were reminded that, as the election is approaching,it is best to drop it off at a polling place; or if they mail it, to make sure it is postmarked no later than Tuesday, so that their vote can be counted.

Those in please indicate that Proposition 50 (Electoral Fraud Response Act) approves temporary emergency congressional district maps to counter Donald Trump's plan to manipulate next year's congressional elections and reaffirms California's commitment to independent and nonpartisan redistricting after the next census. Those who oppose Proposition 50 and urge "no" vote point out that it was written by politicians, for politicians. "It dismantles safeguards that ensure fair elections, eliminates requirements to maintain the cohesion of local communities, and suppresses voter protections that prohibit maps designed to favor political parties," they said. A statement released this weekend by the data analytics firm Political Data Inc. indicated that 26% of the ballots mailed to California voters were returned between October 6 and 31. This means that more than 5.9 million votes have been cast in California's special election to approve or reject Proposition 50. In total, nearly 23 million ballots were mailed to registered voters. Low turnout is a concern. Nadia Abrica, a community organizer, said that unfortunately Latinos are not turning out to vote, so the Latino vote in this special election appears very low. "Only between 23 and 24% of voters overall have cast their ballots. It's a very low number; and although they say we're going to pass this measure without a second thought, we're trembling because people aren't going out to vote," she said. The organizer noted that 170 volunteers offered to go door-to-door in the San Fernando Valley this Sunday. “The goal is to encourage them to vote; and what is truly impressive is the large number of volunteers who have emerged to motivate voters to participate.” Abrica, who supports Proposition 50, said that Tuesday's vote is an opportunity to stop Trump from continuing to marginalize the Latino community and to tie his hands so he can't continue doing damage.

“To the Latinos who voted for Trump and made him win, we say that this is the moment to correct your mistake because not even the economy is better nor have prices gone down as he promised.”

Record Number of Registered Voters

Secretary of State Shirley Weber revealed that as of November 20, a record 23,093,274 Californians had registered to vote.

“These numbers tell us that Californians remain deeply committed to building their future,” Secretary Weber said.

Secretary Weber urged minority voters to go to the polls in the special election.

“You must participate to have a voice and influence your life and the lives of your children. Make sure your voice is heard,” she said.

Eligible Californian voters who have not registered to vote and wish to vote in the November 4, 2025, State Special Election can do so through same-day or conditional voter registration.

Voters can check their voter registration status at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov and can register to track their ballot at Where's My Ballot?

Overwhelming Support

According to the latest poll from the Public Policy Institute of California, 56% of voters would vote yes on Proposition 50, while only 43% would vote no.

“68% of people said the outcome was very important to them. That's the highest percentage I've seen in the last 20 years, since I've been asking this question,” said Mark Baldassare, who directed the statewide poll.

Another poll, released Thursday by the Berkeley Institute for Governmental Studies, shows an even wider gap: 60% voted for Proposition 50 and only 38% against.

According to early mail-in ballot results, 30% of Democrats and 28% of Republicans have already cast their ballots.

vote.

This represents more than three million votes out of a total of 10.3 million ballots mailed to Democrats. In the case of Republicans, the figure rises to more than 1.6 million votes out of a total of 5.8 million ballots mailed.

Independent voter turnout is 18%, which equals to 1.2 million returned ballots out of a total of 6.8 million mailed.