Do you have questions about Proposition 50? If so, you are in good company! We hope you'll find these resources helpful.
The LWV of California’s Easy Voter Guide provides a wide range of information, from how to register to vote to actual guidance on Prop 50 in a pro/con format. Find key data points below. Here's a hard copy of the
LWV Voter Guide - Nov 25 - en.
Ballotpedia provides an
in depth review of Prop 50, the Election Rigging Response Act, including background and the actual wording you'll see on your ballot. Your mail-in ballot should arrive in early October and must be completed and returned by Nov. 4, 2025.
Will your congressional district change if Prop 50 is approved? Check
CalMatters' Voter Guide -- about half way down you'll be able to enter your address and find out if your district will change.
If you'd like more background on how we got here, read Politico's "
They fought for independent California redistricting. Now they're sitting out a gerrymander."
PROP 50 | TEMPORARY CHANGES TO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS
Legislative Constitutional Amendment
The way it is now: California’s congressional districts were drawn by the state’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2021 and are expected to stay in place until 2031. When it drew the district lines, the Commission had to follow certain rules. For example, it was not allowed to draw districts that favor a candidate or political party, and it had to use information from people who live in an area about which neighborhoods should be kept together in the same voting district.
What Prop 50 would do if it passes: Prop 50 would change the California Constitution to replace maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission with new maps drawn by the California State Legislature. The new maps would be used in any congressional election through 2030, including those in 2026, 2028, and 2030. After the 2030 census, the Commission would return to drawing district lines using the rules set out by law. You can find the new and old map at bit.ly/Prop50Maps (https://bit.ly/Prop50Maps).
Fiscal Impact: Changing the maps would cost counties up to a few million dollars to update election materials. It would cost the state about $200,000. For the state, that’s less than one-tenth of one percent of its $220 billion budget, which pays for services like schools, health care, and prisons.
People for Prop 50 say:
Prop 50 is a short-term, temporary emergency plan needed to stop President Trump’s attempt to unfairly rig next year’s congressional election.
Prop 50 gives voters the ability to approve the district lines in this election.
Prop 50 creates fair maps that reflect California’s diverse communities and protect our voices from partisan gerrymandering.
Prop 50 keeps California a leader in fair elections by preserving its independent redistricting system.
Prop 50 strengthens democracy by making sure that Republicans don’t have an unfair advantage in Congress.
People against Prop 50 say:
Prop 50 is a power grab by politicians that undoes fair election reforms and returns California to gerrymandered districts that benefit politicians over voters.
Prop 50 replaces an open public process with secretive political backroom deals.
Prop 50 hurts fair representation by dividing neighborhoods and weakening minority voices in elections.
Prop 50 lets politicians control district lines for years and could open the door to permanent, not temporary, control.
Prop 50 costs taxpayers $200 million when the state is cutting funding to important programs because of budget problems.
The League of Women Voters of California will NOT take a position on Proposition 50.
This statement explains our stance, provides context for it, and shifts the focus to empowering California voters.
Early in the process, before the ballot language was written, we, along with several other good government groups, issued independent statements opposing mid-cycle redistricting. This was consistent with the League’s long-standing positions at both the state and national level. Since then, and on the heels of Texas’ decision, California Governor Newsom and the legislature moved forward to do mid-cycle redistricting. Now, the ballot measure language has been finalized. While the process for the redistricting in California differs from what is happening in Texas, the California League recognizes the importance of staying aligned with our national League and with state and local Leagues, such as in Texas, that are, or may soon be, in court challenging unfair maps.
With all of these factors in mind, we have decided not to take a position on Proposition 50. Read the rest of the statement here.