Voter turnout across Los Angeles County remains steady as Angelenos weigh Proposition 50, a measure that could reshape California’s congressional maps
As of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, voting across Los Angeles County remains steady in the statewide special election that includes Proposition 50, a measure that could allow state lawmakers to redraw congressional district maps ahead of the next census.
According to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, turnout appears to be tracking higher than in most recent special elections, with consistent voter activity reported at vote centers in several regions of the county. Officials have not yet released a formal turnout percentage but indicated that both in-person and early mail-in participation are trending upward compared to similar off-cycle contests.
Vote centers across Los Angeles have reported smooth operations throughout the day. Minor delays were noted at a handful of high-traffic locations earlier in the morning, but election workers have since confirmed that all sites remain open and fully staffed. Ballot drop boxes remain available throughout the county until polls close.
Proposition 50 stands out as the centerpiece of today’s statewide special election in California because it proposes a major shift in how congressional district maps are drawn. The measure was put on the ballot by the California Legislature, was signed off on by the governor, and is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that voters now get to approve or reject.
Under the current system, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission (an independent body created in 2010) draws the boundaries for U.S. House districts every ten years following the census. Proposition 50 asks voters whether to authorize temporary new maps for congressional districts in California, maps that were drawn by the legislature, not the current independent commission. These maps would apply to the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.
If approved, the existing maps drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission would be bypassed until after the 2030 census, at which point the Commission would again draw the maps for the subsequent decade.
The stakes are significant across the state and here in Los Angeles. A “yes” vote would mean the new legislatively-drawn maps become operative, potentially altering the partisan composition of several districts. Meanwhile, a “no” vote would preserve the existing maps drawn by the independent commission through at least the next post-census redrawing.
Scroll to continue reading
The ballot summary explicitly explains that the measure was framed “in response to Texas’ mid-decade partisan congressional redistricting” to allow California’s legislature to adopt new congressional maps ahead of the next census.
Supporters say the change would help California keep pace with other states that have already reshaped their maps, ensuring fairer national representation. Opponents argue it would undo the voter-approved system designed to keep politics out of redistricting and could open the door to partisan map-drawing.
Alongside Proposition 50, voters in Los Angeles are casting ballots in local races — city council seats, school board contests and other municipal offices — which traditionally draw lower turnout in special elections. Because Proposition 50 has elevated the visibility of the entire election, turnout for these down-ballot contests may receive a boost. The combination of a high-profile statewide measure and local races gives today’s election a mix of broad structural issues and neighborhood-level stakes.
Los Angeles County election officials will release periodic updates throughout the evening as counting continues.