November 2025 Special Election Hub

On November 4, 2025, California will hold a Statewide Special Election in which voters will decide on Proposition 50, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment (ACA 8, Chapter 97, Statutes of 2025 – Rivas. Congressional redistricting).

The California Constitution establishes the Citizens Redistricting Commission, which is required to adjust the boundary lines of US Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts in the year following the year in which the national census is taken at the beginning of each decade.

If passed, this ballot measure, Proposition 50, would authorize temporary changes to congressional district maps in response to Texas’s planned redistricting. Temporarily overriding the authority of the Citizens Redistricting Commission would require the state to temporarily use the congressional districts reflected in AB 604 of the 2025–26 Regular Session for every congressional election until the new congressional boundary lines are drawn by the Commission in 2031.

This special election was officially called on August 21, 2025, when Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill No. 280, which set the election date and procedures.

As a 501(c)(3) organization, EBHO is impartial on this ballot measure. But don’t worry — we’ve still got your back when it comes to educational resources! We know how important it is that community members understand what’s on their ballot and when/how to vote.

Proposition 50 Resources

EBHO and our friends at the League of Women Voters of Oakland will hold an informational session about Prop 50 as our October Lunch & Learn on October 16th. This session, and all sessions in our Lunch & Learn series, is free and open to the public.

Info Session RSVP

Read this KQED article for more information about Prop 50 and what comes next.

There are 3 ways to vote:

  1. Mail your ballot. 
    • Must be postmarked on or before 8 PM on Tuesday, November 4. 
    • No postage required.
  2. Drop your completed ballot in a 24-hour ballot drop box. 
    • Click here to find a drop box near you in Alameda County. 
    • Click here to find a drop box near you in Contra Costa County. 
  3. In person. 
    • There are a lot of locations where you can drop off your ballot or vote early. Click here to see the locations, addresses, and hours of vote centers in Alameda County. 
    • Click here to see the locations, addresses, and hours of vote centers in Contra Costa County.

On Election Day, Voting Centers are open from 7 AM to 8 PM. 

Need to register on Election Day or find your polling place? 

Click here to find your local polling location, early vote site dates, or ballot drop-off locations.

Special Election Day 2025: Key Dates

Special Election Day is coming up soon on Tuesday, November 4! Here are a few reminders and things to expect in the weeks leading up to Election Day:

  • Monday, October 20, 2025: Deadline to Register to Vote. Check your registration and/or register online at bit.ly/ebhovote, or have your paper registration postmarked via USPS on or before October 20. 
  • Starting Monday, October 6, 2025: Keep an eye out for your ballot. All active California registered voters should receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the special election around this date. 
  • Track your ballot. Visit wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov to check the status of your vote-by-mail ballot after turning it in to ensure your vote gets counted.
  • Tuesday, November 4: Election Day. Hand-delivered ballots must be to the polls or drop box by 8 PM. We made it!