California voters have one big ballot measure to consider this year. Here’s what you need to know about Proposition 50 and how it would impact the state. What is Proposition 50? If passed, it would change California’s congressional district map. Normally the map is drawn by an independent commission, but state Democrats drew *** new map to try and get more members of their party elected to Congress. It’s *** direct response to Texas changing their congressional maps in favor of electing more Republicans. *** yes vote would support changing the maps. The congressional districts will get redrawn in *** way that spreads out likely Democratic voters into areas that are normally solved Republican spots. *** no vote would keep the current maps in place. What are people saying about Prop 50? Well, supporters say it is *** crucial step in keeping President Trump’s power in check and counter his push to get other states to redraw their maps. Governor Gavin Newsom is behind this move. Because Republicans hold the majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, supporters of this measure say it would limit President Trump and his ability to pass items on his agenda. Opponents who are mostly members of the Republican Party say this is just *** power grab by the Democratic Party that would undermine *** fair election. 5 districts are likely to change from red to blue if Proposition 50 passes. District 1, currently represented by Doug LaMalfa. District 3 is represented by Kevin Kiley. District 22 is represented by David Valadaa. District 41 is currently held by Ken Calver. Lastly, District 48, which is held by Darrell Issa. Election day is November 4th, and ballots have already been mailed out. They must be returned or mailed in by that date for your vote to count.
Yes, ballot selfies are allowed in California. Here are more election dos and don’ts
Updated: 5:03 PM PST Nov 3, 2025
If you want to celebrate your vote with a ballot “selfie” at the polls on Election Day, you can do so. But there are some rules you still need to follow.There are also limits on the type of clothing you can wear to comply with laws against electioneering. The rules apply to anyone within the immediate vicinity of someone in line to cast their ballot or within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling place or ballot drop box. Below is what you need to know about the dos and don’ts of voting. What to know about ballot selfies in California Ballot selfie laws vary across the United States. In California, ballot selfies didn’t become legal until 2017. The state previously had a 125-year-old ban that prevented voters from showing anyone their marked ballots. Assembly Bill 1494 changed the rules. The law now says: “A voter may voluntarily disclose how he or she voted if that voluntary act does not violate any other law.”“We often have people, who once they’ve voted, they want to stand in front of it and say, ‘I’ve voted’ and send it out to their friends,” California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber told KCRA 3 previously. “So they can do that. They can’t begin to take pictures of the process in terms of all of our machines, or voting, those kinds of things, but they can celebrate.” What to know about restrictions on clothing or pins featuring candidates or political positionsYou’re not allowed to distribute, wear or show clothing like hats, shirts, buttons or stickers that display a candidate’s name, image, logo or information about supporting or opposing a ballot measure. “Don’t wear your favorite T-shirt that celebrates your candidate, or your hat,” Weber said. “That can really be a form of intimidation. So we ask that if you have any of that, that you leave it in the car, that you don’t bring it out. Those things can feel minor but oftentimes people can feel really intimidated when they see that someone is voting differently than they do and they’re much more concerned about it.”More “dont’s” to know if you’re within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place or ballot drop box siteIt goes without saying that you shouldn’t try to commit election fraud. Here are more don’ts:Don’t ask a person to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure.Don’t block access to a ballot drop box or loiter nearby.Don’t circulate any petitions.Don’t display information or speak to a voter about their eligibility to vote.Don’t photograph or record a person trying to enter or exit a polling place. (Certain uses of cameras are permitted like with credentialed media organizations filming a candidate voting.)Don’t challenge someone’s right to vote. | MORE | Who are the 5 California Republicans who could lose their congressional seat?Voting “dos.” These are your rights as a California voterThe secretary of state’s website has a full list of your rights as a voter. Among those rights: You have the right to vote if you are a registered voter, even if your name is not on the list.You have the right to vote if you are still in line when the polls close.You have the right to cast a secret ballot.You have the right to get a new ballot if you made a mistake and have not already cast your ballot.You have the right to get help casting your ballot from someone you choose, except if that person is your employer or a union representative.You have the right to drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in California.You have the right to get election materials in a language other than English if enough people in your precinct speak that language.You have the right to ask election officials about their procedures.You have the right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity to an elections official or the Secretary of State’s Office.How to get answers to your questions about voting or report an issueVoters can call a state election hotline to report an issue at a voting location. Here is information on those hotlines in different languages. 800-345-VOTE (8683) – English800-232-VOTA (8682) – español / Spanish800-339-2857 – 中文 / Chinese888-345-2692 – हिन्दी / Hindi800-339-2865 – 日本語 / Japanese888-345-4917 – ខ្មែរ / Khmer866-575-1558 – 한국어 / Korean800-339-2957 – Tagalog855-345-3933 – ภาษาไทย / Thai800-339-8163 – Việt ngữ / VietnameseFor more information about the Special Election on Prop 50, check out this explainer.Find more political news here.
If you want to celebrate your vote with a ballot “selfie” at the polls on Election Day, you can do so. But there are some rules you still need to follow.
There are also limits on the type of clothing you can wear to comply with laws against electioneering. The rules apply to anyone within the immediate vicinity of someone in line to cast their ballot or within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling place or ballot drop box.
Below is what you need to know about the dos and don’ts of voting.
What to know about ballot selfies in California
Ballot selfie laws vary across the United States. In California, ballot selfies didn’t become legal until 2017. The state previously had a 125-year-old ban that prevented voters from showing anyone their marked ballots.
Assembly Bill 1494 changed the rules. The law now says: “A voter may voluntarily disclose how he or she voted if that voluntary act does not violate any other law.”
“We often have people, who once they’ve voted, they want to stand in front of it and say, ‘I’ve voted’ and send it out to their friends,” California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber told KCRA 3 previously. “So they can do that. They can’t begin to take pictures of the process in terms of all of our machines, or voting, those kinds of things, but they can celebrate.”
What to know about restrictions on clothing or pins featuring candidates or political positions
You’re not allowed to distribute, wear or show clothing like hats, shirts, buttons or stickers that display a candidate’s name, image, logo or information about supporting or opposing a ballot measure.
“Don’t wear your favorite T-shirt that celebrates your candidate, or your hat,” Weber said. “That can really be a form of intimidation. So we ask that if you have any of that, that you leave it in the car, that you don’t bring it out. Those things can feel minor but oftentimes people can feel really intimidated when they see that someone is voting differently than they do and they’re much more concerned about it.”
More “dont’s” to know if you’re within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place or ballot drop box site
It goes without saying that you shouldn’t try to commit election fraud. Here are more don’ts:
Don’t ask a person to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure.Don’t block access to a ballot drop box or loiter nearby.Don’t circulate any petitions.Don’t display information or speak to a voter about their eligibility to vote.Don’t photograph or record a person trying to enter or exit a polling place. (Certain uses of cameras are permitted like with credentialed media organizations filming a candidate voting.)Don’t challenge someone’s right to vote.
| MORE | Who are the 5 California Republicans who could lose their congressional seat?
Voting “dos.” These are your rights as a California voter
The secretary of state’s website has a full list of your rights as a voter. Among those rights:
You have the right to vote if you are a registered voter, even if your name is not on the list.You have the right to vote if you are still in line when the polls close.You have the right to cast a secret ballot.You have the right to get a new ballot if you made a mistake and have not already cast your ballot.You have the right to get help casting your ballot from someone you choose, except if that person is your employer or a union representative.You have the right to drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in California.You have the right to get election materials in a language other than English if enough people in your precinct speak that language.You have the right to ask election officials about their procedures.You have the right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity to an elections official or the Secretary of State’s Office.How to get answers to your questions about voting or report an issue
Voters can call a state election hotline to report an issue at a voting location. Here is information on those hotlines in different languages.
800-345-VOTE (8683) – English800-232-VOTA (8682) – español / Spanish800-339-2857 – 中文 / Chinese888-345-2692 – हिन्दी / Hindi800-339-2865 – 日本語 / Japanese888-345-4917 – ខ្មែរ / Khmer866-575-1558 – 한국어 / Korean800-339-2957 – Tagalog855-345-3933 – ภาษาไทย / Thai800-339-8163 – Việt ngữ / Vietnamese
For more information about the Special Election on Prop 50, check out this explainer.