AND STARTING TOMORROW, SOME CALIFORNIA VOTERS CAN CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN PERSON FOR THE STATEWIDE SPECIAL ELECTION. SACRAMENTO COUNTY IS AMONG THE AREAS OPENING VOTE CENTERS EARLY. ABOUT HALF OF CALIFORNIA’S 58 COUNTIES NOW USE THESE TYPES OF CENTERS CREATED UNDER THE VOTERS CHOICE ACT NEARLY A DECADE AGO, THEY LET PEOPLE DROP OFF BALLOTS, VOTE IN PERSON, OR EVEN REGISTER CONDITIONALLY IF THEY MISS THE DEADLINE. SACRAMENTO COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY 16 VOTE CENTERS WILL OPEN TOMORROW. IT’S A IT’S A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD ELECTION. THERE’S JUST ONE QUESTION ON THE BALLOT. SO SHOULD BE PRETTY QUICK AND EASY. VOTE FOR PEOPLE. AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO VOTE EARLY BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THERE IS ONLY ONE QUESTION ON THIS BALLOT, WE DO ANTICIPATE LONG LINES AT VOTE CENTERS ON ELECTION DAY. ALL RIGHT. SO TAKE A LOOK HERE AT YOUR SCREEN. THOSE ARE THE COUNTIES ACROSS OUR AREA WITH VOTE CENTERS. OPEN THEIR BUTTE CALAVERAS EL DORADO NEVAD
California Prop 50 Special Election | Early voting centers open in these 29 counties on Oct. 25
Updated: 9:18 AM PDT Oct 24, 2025
California voters are set to decide in a special election whether the state will adopt a new congressional map intended to send more Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.Proposition 50 is part of a larger national fight in which lawmakers are trying to redistrict their districts to favor one party over another, also known as gerrymandering.Because California has an independent redistricting commission, the proposed maps must go before voters to decide if they should be adopted. Learn more about Prop 50 here.Voters have the right to drop off their completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place or drop box location in the state. People can also mail their ballots as long as they are postmarked no later than Election Day, Nov. 4. In 29 “Voter’s Choice Act Counties,” it’s also possible to vote in person or drop off your ballot at a Vote Center beginning 10 days before the election. For this special election, that means Vote Centers open for early voting beginning on Saturday, Oct. 25.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.Sacramento County officials say 16 vote centers will open starting Saturday. “It’s a pretty straightforward election. There’s just one question on the ballot, so it should be a pretty quick and easy vote for people,” said Ken Casparis with the county. “If you are going to vote, we encourage everybody to vote early because although there is only one question this ballot, we do anticipate long lines at our vote centers on Election Day.” How to find an early voting site, Election Day voting site or drop-off location for California’s special electionThis tool on the Secretary of State’s website lets you search for the closest early voting location or drop-off location near you. What time do polls open on Election Day? On Election Day, vote centers in all counties will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. How to track your vote in CaliforniaThe Secretary of State’s Office is offering a way for voters to track their ballot online. The service allows people to receive updates when their ballot is mailed, received, counted or if an issue comes up. Voters will have the option of email, text or phone call updates.Missed your voter registration date? California offers same-day registrationIf you’ve missed the deadline to register to vote for the election, you can cast a ballot conditionally. California allows for same-day registration until 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can sign up for conditional voter registration at your county elections office, or any vote center or polling place in your county. Your ballot will be processed and counted once the county elections office has completed its voter registration verification process. Learn more. What if your name is not on the voter list at your polling place but you’re sure you’re registered?California law states any voter whose qualifications cannot be immediately verified can cast a ballot provisionally. This process involves comparing the signature of the provisional ballot with the signature on the voter’s affidavit of registration to ensure the person is properly registered to vote.How to check if you’re registered to voteCalifornians can check the status of their voter registration here.What to do if you lost your ballot or did not get oneYou can cast a provisional ballot at your polling place or a vote center. Your ballot will be counted after election officials have confirmed you are registered to vote in that county and did not already vote in that election. Learn more here.More questions? Check with your county elections officeYou can find more voting information from your county elections office below.SacramentoSan JoaquinStanislausAmadorCalaverasTuolumnePlacerEl DoradoAlpineNevadaSierraYubaSutterYoloSolanoColusaPlumasLearn more about Prop 50 from our previous coverage below:Special Election dates and deadlinesVoter turnout so far on Prop 50California Politics 360: A special report on redistrictingHow a USPS mail service change may delay ballot returns for rural votersEverything to know about Prop 50Who are the 5 California Republicans who could lose their congressional seat if Prop 50 passes?Get the Facts: Why do mail-in ballot envelopes have holes for Prop 50 special election?What is Prop 50? Arguments for and against the California redistricting measureWhat is gerrymandering? History of the term and how it relates to California’s Prop 50 See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channelKCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in depth coverage of California redistricting efforts and other top policy issues on “California Politics 360.” Get informed with the latest updates about Prop 50 and more topics before Election Day on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.
California voters are set to decide in a special election whether the state will adopt a new congressional map intended to send more Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Proposition 50 is part of a larger national fight in which lawmakers are trying to redistrict their districts to favor one party over another, also known as gerrymandering.
Because California has an independent redistricting commission, the proposed maps must go before voters to decide if they should be adopted. Learn more about Prop 50 here.
Voters have the right to drop off their completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place or drop box location in the state.
People can also mail their ballots as long as they are postmarked no later than Election Day, Nov. 4.
In 29 “Voter’s Choice Act Counties,” it’s also possible to vote in person or drop off your ballot at a Vote Center beginning 10 days before the election. For this special election, that means Vote Centers open for early voting beginning on Saturday, Oct. 25.
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.
Sacramento County officials say 16 vote centers will open starting Saturday.
“It’s a pretty straightforward election. There’s just one question on the ballot, so it should be a pretty quick and easy vote for people,” said Ken Casparis with the county. “If you are going to vote, we encourage everybody to vote early because although there is only one question [on] this ballot, we do anticipate long lines at our vote centers on Election Day.”
How to find an early voting site, Election Day voting site or drop-off location for California’s special electionWhat time do polls open on Election Day?
On Election Day, vote centers in all counties will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
How to track your vote in California
The Secretary of State’s Office is offering a way for voters to track their ballot online. The service allows people to receive updates when their ballot is mailed, received, counted or if an issue comes up. Voters will have the option of email, text or phone call updates.
Missed your voter registration date? California offers same-day registration
If you’ve missed the deadline to register to vote for the election, you can cast a ballot conditionally. California allows for same-day registration until 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can sign up for conditional voter registration at your county elections office, or any vote center or polling place in your county. Your ballot will be processed and counted once the county elections office has completed its voter registration verification process. Learn more.
What if your name is not on the voter list at your polling place but you’re sure you’re registered?
California law states any voter whose qualifications cannot be immediately verified can cast a ballot provisionally. This process involves comparing the signature of the provisional ballot with the signature on the voter’s affidavit of registration to ensure the person is properly registered to vote.
How to check if you’re registered to vote
Californians can check the status of their voter registration here.
What to do if you lost your ballot or did not get one
You can cast a provisional ballot at your polling place or a vote center. Your ballot will be counted after election officials have confirmed you are registered to vote in that county and did not already vote in that election. Learn more here.
More questions? Check with your county elections office
You can find more voting information from your county elections office below.
Learn more about Prop 50 from our previous coverage below:
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in depth coverage of California redistricting efforts and other top policy issues on “California Politics 360.” Get informed with the latest updates about Prop 50 and more topics before Election Day on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.