Support Prop 50 graphic

YES on Prop 50 on Nov.4

The road to fair representation and anti-gerrymandering reform goes through Prop 50
1

Prevent unfair advantage

Prop 50 is a time-limited fix that blunts extreme gerrymanders elsewhere so that voters can decide control of Congress.

2

Stop Trump's power grab

Without Prop 50, rigged districts in red states could lock in control of the House no matter how people vote.

3

Elect pro-reform champions

Winning seats now puts lawmakers who support fair voter maps into office, essential to passing lasting national standards.

4

Pass federal protections

With a reform-minded majority, enact a federal fair-maps law to end gerrymandering and strengthen voting rights protections for everyone.

Ballots: Early October Election Day: Nov 4 #StopElectionRigging #YesOnProp50

Take Action to Support Prop.50, The Election Rigging Response Act

Write Postcards

Handwritten postcards help explain Prop 50 and encourage people to vote.

RSVP to pick up in Mountain View or join our weekly writing event.

Call Voters

Speak to voters, answer questions, and build turnout. Training included.

With CA Democratic Party

With Swing Left

With Activate America

Talk To People Face to Face

Knock doors, talk to voters, leave literature. Training is provided. We host canvassing in Mountain View / Los Altos on Sept. 27 and Nov.4. RSVP here

See also Bay Area Coalition list of canvasses and resources

Not in the Bay Area? Find one that works for you!

Spread Flyers (PDF)

Share the Info

Point friends to plain-language explainers:

More Ways to Volunteer

  • Text voters from home
  • Be a community connector
  • Become the resident expert on Prop 50 in your circle so friends & neighbors know who to ask
  • Put up yard signs (reach out to your local Dem party)
  • Help on Election Day with turnout visibility

Sign Up to Volunteer With ERRA

What Is Prop. 50

This ballot measure temporarily changes how voting districts are drawn in California as a defensive step against partisan gerrymandering in other states, which could otherwise let one party unfairly lock in control of Congress and disenfranchise California voters.

Key Dates

Always check your county elections office for local deadlines and drop-off locations.

President Obama: "I think that approach is a smart, measured approach, designed to address a very particular problem in a very particular moment in time... if we don’t respond effectively, then this White House and Republican-controlled state governments all across the country, they will not stop, because they do not appear to believe in this idea of an inclusive, expansive democracy.” (NYTimes)

Neutral Assessment

For neutral, non-partisan information, consult trusted sources and your county elections office. Some non-partisan sources for Prop.50:

Important Notice from League of Women Voters: You may have received a deceptive anti-Prop.50 mailer from “Protect Voters First” about the redistricting ballot initiative this November. The mailer wrongly implies that the League of Women Voters of California is part of their coalition and endorses the information contained in the flyer. The League of Women Voters of California did not authorize this action.

Common Questions & Concerns

Fair maps are the goal. Prop 50 is a temporary fix to blunt extreme gerrymanders elsewhere while we keep pushing for a permanent national solution.

“I don’t support gerrymandering. Why support Prop 50?”

We agree: voters should choose politicians, not the other way around. But many states have drawn extreme maps to lock in control of the U.S. House. Federal anti-gerrymandering protections are blocked in Congress right now. Prop 50 is a time-limited California response that helps prevent those extreme maps from deciding national power before we can pass federal reform.

“Didn’t Californians build fair maps already? Why change that?”

Californians led the nation on independent, people-first maps. Prop 50 doesn’t scrap that legacy: it makes a temporary adjustment that ends with the 2030 census, which will guide the next set of redistricting maps. After that, our normal independent process resumes. Think of Prop 50 as emergency stabilization while national rules are missing.

“Isn’t this just a partisan power grab?”

No. The problem is partisan power grabs elsewhere. Prop 50 is a defensive measure to keep Congress competitive so a federal, nonpartisan fix remains possible. Without it, extreme gerrymanders in a handful of states could lock in control regardless of votes, making national reform unattainable.

“Why not wait for the courts or for Congress to act?”

Court cases move slowly, and Congress has not passed national standards. Meanwhile, multiple election cycles would occur under skewed maps. Prop 50 gives voters a near-term tool while legal and legislative solutions are pursued.

“Will Prop 50 undermine communities of interest or protections for minority voters?”

No. Existing protections, like the Voting Rights Act and criteria that respect communities, continue to apply. The intent is to maintain fair representation while countering distortions created by extreme maps out of state.

“How long does this last?”

Prop 50 includes a clear sunset (an automatic endpoint), at the 2030 cycle. It is a bridge to national reform, not a permanent rewrite of California’s process.

“What can I do if I’m unsure?”

Read neutral resources, then vote your values. If you support fair maps and competitive elections, a YES on Prop 50 is the practical step to keep the path to federal reform open in the near term.