By CLAIRE MORALES TRUE and CESAR ANTONIO NUCUM JR.

SACRAMENTO, California –  California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber called anew on the state’s voters to participate in the November 4 special elections for Proposition 50 seeking redistricting in the state.

This as latest polls indicate that Proposition 50 appears likely to pass with 56 percent of Public Policy Institute of California surveyed are in favor as Governor Gavin Newsom called on supporters and  reminded voters of the Nov. 4 balloting.

Meanwhile, the office of Secretary Weber reported that more than 4.5 million ballots have been cast either by mail or in person as of October 26.

 The office of Secretary Weber said polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The office also reminded that ballots sent to registered voters come with prepaid postage and return envelopes, and must be postmarked on or before Election Day and arrive to county elections offices not later than seven days after Nov. 4, to be counted.

The secretary of state’s office said it sent more than 23.2 million vote-by-mail ballots to registered voters in recent weeks.

Secretary Weber’s office said the last day to register to vote and receive a ballot in the mail was Oct. 20. But eligible voters who missed the deadline can come to a polling place Nov. 4 and register that same day to cast their ballot.

California is one of 23 states that allows same day registration to vote. Potential voters in the state can register in person with a driver’s license or state ID, and the last 4 digits of their Social Security number.

If passed, Prop 50 would create a new U.S. House map for California to be used from 2026 until 2030. After the 2030 Census, redistricting authority would return to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Regions most impacted by Prop 50, also known as the Election Rigging Response Act, include the Los Angeles, Inland Empire, San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno and Lodi areas, according to American Community Media report.

Earlier, Secretary of State Weber reminded Californians on the voting process  so voters may be properly guided so enthusiasm and interest in the electoral exercise would be  sustained.

Weber joined the American Community Media on October 21 media briefing “Statewide Media Briefing:  2025 Special Election – Ballot Security, Voter Registration & Voting Options.”

The briefing  covered security measures that protect the integrity of every ballot and ensure a transparent, accurate process, how voters can register or update their registration before the deadline at RegisterToVote.ca.gov and confirm voter status at VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov., and options for voting statewide – by mail, at secure drop boxes, and in person at  vote centers and polling places, including Voter’s Choice Act counties offering  “More Days, More Ways” to vote and the ability to track ballots with “Where’s  My Ballot?” (WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov).

Weber emphasized that elections are, as they have always been, very important for all and even personal for her as her ancestors have been in this country for over 200 years and what that meant for her for all of those years is that her parents never got a chance to vote not because they didn’t have the right to vote but because of the issue and limitations of registration. 

Weber said during that briefing that her parents were not able to register until they came to California in the 1950s when his father was in his 30s and got a chance to register to vote and to participate in the process.

“So, we recognized in our family, and in so many other families, just how precious this experience is of having your voice, having the ability to vote, having it accessible, making it available to so many is really, really important. And that’s what we’ve been trying to do here in California with every election to make it accessible to California with its very diverse population to be able to do that, to be able to vote comfortably, and to be able to vote in a timely manner that really counts your ballot makes sure your voice is heard, and gives us a voice to be able to influence California politics as well as the national politics,” Weber said.  

Weber shared that at around night time of October 20, 2025, there were already two million folks who already had their ballots counted increasing every day, and “it’s good to see that so many folks are taking advantage of it, and the vast majority are taking advantage of the vote-by-mail ballots.

“We know that the last day to register to vote was October 20 but keep in mind, that’s only the fact that it was the opportunity to register to vote, so you could have a ballot sent to your home and vote in that sense,” said Weber. “However, California’s laws allow us to vote on the same day for same-day registration. So, if you have someone who missed the deadline, let them know that California, one can still register and vote in California on the same day of the election. Just go to the polls, to fill out the forms, and they will become what we call provisional voters with a provisional ballot that won’t be counted initially until we have had an opportunity to get the ballot, to look at the documentation of the registration, making sure that all the things that are necessary to qualify them as a voter in California is correct. And once that is done, then their ballot is counted after the other ballots are counted.  So, you will still get a chance to vote if, you missed being registered by October 20 by going to the polling center on November 5^th,” she added.

Weber also stated that they are not sure exactly what will be the last count, but clearly lots of ballots are coming in because this is an easy election with a yes or no answer.

“We always say that we have more days and more ways in California. We have eleven days to vote in California, we have more ways to vote in California, where some states only have the polling place and that’s it unless you apply for a vote-by-mail ballot or an emergency ballot, as they call it. We give you the opportunity, because everyone gets a ballot in the mail, and if you’re registered, you get a ballot in the mail. You will then have the opportunity to actually vote privately if you choose to basically turn that ballot into the ballot boxes that we have throughout the city. And if you look at our website, you have places that you can find your ballot box that are secured. They will be picked up. So you can vote in the ballot box, those are important, and they will be taken up until the day of the election and validated,” Weber explained.

The other way that you can do it is to put it in the mail and even those that live in an area that has limited services, their ballot may not be counted on the day of the election if they put it in the ballot box on the day of the election in certain counties, in certain areas thus Weber urged all to make sure to get this vote done early.

“If for some reason that you still want to go to the post office, and it’s the day of the election, make sure you go inside the post office and have your ballot envelope stamped so that it is then able to be counted. Otherwise, put it into our ballot box, because it will be counted. Or go into a polling place and hand it to them. It will be counted. Put it in the polling place. All of those things are ways in which you can get the ballot done,” said Weber. “You can still go into the polling place itself, and even with your ballot in your hand, you can actually still vote in person and sign it. You can hand them the ballot, but you will you will basically be able to vote in person.  So, we offer these multiple ways that people can vote that’s accessible to you. If there’s any concern about voting or issues, make sure that you call our hotline 1-800-345-VOTE (8683) that is open all the time.  we have all the information. Our polite folks are very patient. They will give you what you need if you have any concerns and answer those questions that you have.”

“We have in California the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that guides us, but we know that there’s challenges at the federal level with regards to the Voting Rights Act and as a result, California has its own voting rights. The Bill of Rights for Vote in California indicates the right to get a new ballot if you have made a mistake on your ballot, the right to get help casting your ballot is also a right that you have, you have the right to drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in California, you can generally get election material in almost any language that has been certified as there  are nine different languages in addition to English that our ballots are printed in. And they’re certified so that you can, if you want to request it, you can request a ballot in your language, your natural language,” continued Weber.

Weber also urged everyone that if there’s a concern, you have the right to go to your polling place, to your registrar of voter, and asked to watch the elections, the ballots that are counted.