It’s Election Day. Here’s what’s at stake in LA County as voters decide on Proposition 50

It’s Election Day in California.

The state’s special election on redistricting started with a bang less than three months ago — and has culminated in this, the final day for voters to cast their ballots on Proposition 50.

Californians are being asked whether to OK new, partisan congressional maps for the next three elections.

Related: Southern California’s guide to Prop. 50, the 2025 redistricting election

Backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and prominent Democrats across the country, the changes to congressional districts are meant to give the state’s Democratic Party a boost in the upcoming midterm elections, a counter to similar gerrymandering efforts in Republican-led states at the behest of President Donald Trump.

For those who haven’t yet cast a ballot, there’s still time.

Polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

And remember, if you’re in line to vote when the clock strikes 8, you can stay in line and still vote. Poll workers are instructed, per the secretary of state, to prohibit anyone who arrives after 8 p.m. from voting, but people who are in line are still allowed to cast their ballots.

Ballots postmarked by today, Nov. 4, and received by the county registrar’s office by Nov. 12, will be counted in the election.

That being said, California officials encouraged voters who wished to vote by mail to do so early due to concerns that residents who live more than 50 miles from a U.S. Postal Service regional mail processing hub wouldn’t have a guarantee that their ballot would be postmarked that same day.

And just make sure that if you’re submitting a mail ballot, you sign that envelope.

The ongoing federal government shutdown is not expected to impact Election Day or ballot counting in any way, state officials have said. The U.S. Postal Service’s operations are an independent agency funded by the sale of its products and services, and it is prepared for an influx of mail because of the election and holiday season, Natashi Garvins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service in Southern California, has said.

As for when Californians will start seeing results in the Proposition 50 election, that somewhat depends on just how early people voted.

The first batch of election results will be released shortly after polls close on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m., per the secretary of state’s schedule. These are semi-official results from mailed and early-voting ballots processed ahead of Election Day.

State law provides time for voters to correct, or “cure,” a ballot if issues arise.

For example, if a voter forgets to sign their signature on a vote-by-mail envelope or the signature doesn’t match the one on file with elections offices, they’re contacted and given a chance to remedy the issue.

The cure deadline for the special election is Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. The secretary of state has until Dec. 12 to certify the statewide results.

As of Sunday, Nov. 2, more than 6.4 million vote by mail ballots had been returned and accepted, according to data from the secretary of state’s office.

What’s at stake in LA County

A lot is riding on the outcome of the election — and for some congressional districts more than others.

In Los Angeles County, the 27th and 42nd congressional districts would be among those most impacted should Proposition 50 pass.

California’s 27th Congressional District in northern L.A. County is represented by Democrat George Whitesides, a prime target for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. The district, which encompasses the Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita, has been a competitive district in recent elections, with Democrats and Republicans taking turns winning the seat.

The district is currently 40% registered Democrats, 30% Republicans and 22% “no party preference.” But if Proposition 50 passes, the district would become 42% Democrats, 27% Republicans and 29% no party preference or registered with another party.

Under the proposed map, the district would continue to include Lancaster, Palmdale and Santa Clarita but lose a chunk of its current northwestern section. It would drop further down into the San Fernando Valley, picking up Reseda and Lake Balboa.

And at the southern end of L.A. County, California’s 42nd Congressional District, represented now by Democrat Robert Garcia, would see a dramatic change to its boundaries.

The district is now entirely within L.A. County, but it would shift south into Orange County. The 42nd District would lose Lakewood, Downey and other communities in southeast L.A. County — Commerce and Huntington Park, to name two — but would pick up Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa in Orange County.

The 42nd District is currently 52% Democrat, 18% Republican and 22% no party preference. Although the district would wind up with more Republican voters, Democrats would still have the advantage if Proposition 50 passes. The district, under the proposed maps, would be 40% registered Democratic voters, 30% Republicans and 28% no party preference or other.

There would also be a new congressional district created under the Proposition 50 maps.

Rep. Linda Sánchez, D-Whittier, is the office holder for California’s 38th Congressional District. But under the maps before voters, Whittier would be folded into the 41st District, and a new 38th District would be created that would include the San Gabriel Valley communities of El Monte and Baldwin Park, as well as parts of southeast L.A. County, including Montebello. It would also extend into northeastern Orange County, picking up Yorba Linda.

L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis has announced plans to run for this new District 38 if it’s created.

Sánchez, meanwhile, would have the option of running in the new 41st District, which would include Whittier, Bell Gardens, Downey and Lakewood in L.A. County, as well as La Habra and Brea in northern Orange County.