I’M MELANIE WINGO IN FOR CECIL HANNIBAL. EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING IS NOW OPEN IN SEVERAL CALIFORNIA COUNTIES THAT DO HAVE THOSE VOTE CENTERS. AND AS BALLOTS CONTINUE TO ROLL IN FOR THE STATE’S PROP 50 SPECIAL ELECTION. KCRA 3’S DENSON CORTEZ SHOWS US WHAT THE NUMBERS REVEAL SO FAR, FROM THE MAILBOX TO THE BALLOT BOX. VOTERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA GETTING AN EARLY START AS TODAY MARKS THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING FOR CALIFORNIA’S SPECIAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 4TH. ON THE BALLOT PROPOSITION 50, THE STATEWIDE MEASURE THAT WOULD CHANGE NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS FOLLOWING A RESPONSE TO REDISTRICTING EFFORTS IN TEXAS AT THE PRESIDENT’S REQUEST, IF PASSED, PROP 50 WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE CURRENT CONGRESSIONAL MAPS DRAWN BY AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION. THE NEW MAPS WOULD BE FOR THE 2026, 2028 AND 2030 ELECTIONS. WE’RE AT 4 MILLION BALLOTS HAVE BEEN RETURNED. THAT’S ACTUALLY A MORE RAPID PACE THAN THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION, WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY A HIGH TURNOUT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. PAUL MITCHELL IS THE MAN WHO DREW THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS AND SAYS EXPECTED TURNOUT WILL BE AROUND THE 45 TO 50% RANGE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT’S INTERESTING ABOUT WHO IS RETURNING THEIR BALLOTS IS IT’S MORE OLDER VOTERS AND MORE PARTIZAN VOTERS. ELECTION DAY IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK OUT. EARLY VOTING CENTERS ALLOW PEOPLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT IN PERSON OR SEND THEIR COMPLETED VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS. WHAT WE SEE AT SOME OF THESE VOTE CENTERS IS A LOT OF ACTIVITY. WHEN WE GET CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY. IF YOU WERE TO GO TO A VOTE CENTER TODAY, YOU MIGHT GO IN THERE AND THEY MIGHT SAY THEY HAD 15 OR 20 PEOPLE COME IN. BUT IF YOU GO ON ELECTION DAY OR ELECTION WEEKEND, YOU MIGHT SEE A LINE OUT THE DOOR AS COUNTIES OPEN THEIR VOTE CENTERS UNDER THE STATE’S VOTERS CHOICE ACT. MITCHELL SAYS TURNING IN A BALLOT EARLY IS STILL THE SAFEST BET. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WAS PLANNING ON VOTING, BUT THE FLIGHT WAS STUCK AND THEY DIDN’T GET BACK IN TIME TO VOTE. ALL THESE KIND OF LIFE EVENTS CAN INTERRUPT SOMEONE’S VOTING PLAN. THE BEST THING TO DO IS COME UP WITH A VOTING PLAN AND THEN TRY TO MAKE SURE YOU VOTE EARLY SO THAT YOUR BALLOT ISN’T, YOU KNOW, DISRUPTED IN SACRAMENTO IN CORTEZ. KCRA THREE NEWS. NOW, ACCORDING TO POLITICAL DATA INC., MORE THAN 4 MILLION BALLOTS HAVE BEEN RETURNED. JUST SHY OF
In-person early voting begins in California for special election on Proposition 50
California voters have started early in-person voting for the special election with a notable increase in early ballot returns.
Updated: 9:57 PM PDT Oct 25, 2025
California voters have commenced early in-person voting for the special election on Proposition 50, a measure that could change congressional district maps for upcoming elections in 2026, 2028, and 2030.Paul Mitchell, who drew the congressional maps, noted that 4 million ballots have already been returned, a faster pace than in previous years. “That’s actually a more rapid pace than the 2024 general election, which was obviously a high turnout presidential election,” Mitchell said.He expects voter turnout to be around 45 to 50 percent, with older and more partisan voters returning their ballots early. Mitchell explained that early voting centers allow people to cast their ballots in person or send their completed vote-by-mail ballots.”What we see at some of these vote centers is a lot of activity when we get closer to Election Day,” he said.He advised that turning in a ballot early is the safest option, as life events can disrupt voting plans. Sacramento County is a part of the Voter’s Choice Act, allowing voters more opportunities to cast their ballots. For this special election, these are the participating counties: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Merced, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Ventura and Yolo.Voters have the right to drop off their completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place or drop box location in the state.Mitchell also highlighted disparities in voter turnout, with younger voters and Latinos participating less than older, more established voters. “We’ll see what final turnout is. But I think a lot of the final turnout will depend on those people that show up on election day,” Mitchell said.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California voters have commenced early in-person voting for the special election on Proposition 50, a measure that could change congressional district maps for upcoming elections in 2026, 2028, and 2030.
Paul Mitchell, who drew the congressional maps, noted that 4 million ballots have already been returned, a faster pace than in previous years.
“That’s actually a more rapid pace than the 2024 general election, which was obviously a high turnout presidential election,” Mitchell said.
He expects voter turnout to be around 45 to 50 percent, with older and more partisan voters returning their ballots early.
Mitchell explained that early voting centers allow people to cast their ballots in person or send their completed vote-by-mail ballots.
“What we see at some of these vote centers is a lot of activity when we get closer to Election Day,” he said.
He advised that turning in a ballot early is the safest option, as life events can disrupt voting plans.
Sacramento County is a part of the Voter’s Choice Act, allowing voters more opportunities to cast their ballots. For this special election, these are the participating counties:
Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Merced, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Ventura and Yolo.
Voters have the right to drop off their completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place or drop box location in the state.
Mitchell also highlighted disparities in voter turnout, with younger voters and Latinos participating less than older, more established voters.
“We’ll see what final turnout is. But I think a lot of the final turnout will depend on those people that show up on election day,” Mitchell said.