What is a special election?

On November 4, 2025, California will hold a statewide special election, which is an irregularly scheduled election most commonly used to fill unexpected vacancies in public elected offices or to address urgent legislative matters. In this case, California voters will decide on Proposition 50, also known as the Election Rigging Response Act, which would replace the current congressional map with one that creates five new majority-Democrat districts.

What is on the ballot?

Proposition 50 is a measure that redraws the state's congressional district maps. Every 10 years after the U.S. Census is completed, states draw district maps to reflect their number of House representatives. This proposition, put on the ballot by California Legislature, is in response to the Texas Legislature passing a bill that redrew its congressional map to add five new districts that would favor the Republican Party in the 2026 midterm election. The dueling partisan redistricting efforts - part of a multi-state push to shift party representation - have high-stakes political implications in deciding which party will control the House of Representatives.

"What the governor is doing is creating the political opportunity for the state legislature and, ultimately, the voters to approve a new set of maps in California," said Matt Barreto, a political scientist and co-founder of the UCLA Voting Rights Project.

As you consider your position on this issue - or prepare to vote in any election - it is important to analyze a diverse range of sources. Hearing from multiple perspectives will enable you to make a more thoughtful decision.

"Reaching an informed decision depends on our breaking out of our 'echo chambers' and considering the arguments both for and against," said Stuart Soroka, a UCLA professor of communication and political science.

When, where and how to vote

In California, the deadline to register to vote for any election is 15 days before Election Day; the last day to register for this election is October 20. Voters still have the option of utilizing same-day, or conditional, voter registration, but will have to do so in person at their county elections office or at any in-person voting location.

If you are unsure about your registration, the California Secretary of State website allows residents to check if and where they are registered to vote, along with political party preference, language preference and the status of vote-by-mail or provisional ballots.

If you live on campus, make sure to check that you're using the correct address. Once you're registered, you can either vote by mail or find a voting center near you.

Vote by mail

Active voters who register in California by the deadline will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot for each election, which can be dropped off at any of the following locations:

• At the USPS post office located at Ackerman Union, A-level (right in front of the elevators)
• In a USPS Blue Box
• At an official Los Angeles County vote-by-mail drop box or early voting location.

Don't forget that ballots must be deposited on or before Election Day and received by November 12. You can visit this website to track your vote-by-mail ballot and see that it was properly counted.

Voting in person

If you did not vote by mail or require same-day voter registration, you can find your polling place and vote in person by Election Day. Or, you can even place your ballot right outside your doorstep.

On your way to your next lecture, stop by Kerckhoff Hall's Grand Salon or the Hammer Museum's Bay-Nimoy Studio in Westwood to vote in person or drop off your vote-by-mail ballot. Plus, don't miss the Special Election Soiree from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on October 23 at the Kerckhoff Coffee House Patio where you can enjoy food and live music, all while learning nonpartisan information about Proposition 50 from community partners.

This event is organized by Associated Students UCLA and BruinsVote, a nonpartisan coalition of students, student organizations and campus partners that strives to encourage a civically engaged campus community through voter registration, education and mobilization.

Additional resources

For more information on preparing to vote, how to make an informed decision, election logistics, how to get involved or any additional questions, visit the CLDE's campus and external resources page, as well as the California Secretary of State website.