Upcoming Elections

November 4, 2025 Special Election

Statewide Ballot Measure

In November, voters registered in California will caste their votes on Proposition 50 which is aimed at redrawing the boundaries of Congressional Districts in our state. Two of the districts most significantly impacted by Prop 50 are District 1 and District 3, close to home here in Nevada County.

PROP 50 BACKGROUND

The U.S. Congress is the part of the federal government that makes laws. Congress is made up of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives (House). Each of the 50 states is represented by 2 senators, with 100 senators in total. The House currently has 435 members. The number of Representatives in the House from each state depends on how many people live in each state, which is determined by the census every 10 years. Each member in the House represents an area of the state called a congressional district. California currently has 52 congressional districts. Voters who live in each congressional district elect one member of the House every two years to represent them. The next election for Representatives in all the states will be in 2026.

The last time the census counted everyone who lived in the United states was in 2020, and the next census is in 2030 After the U.S. Census is completed, states draw new congressional district maps to reflect the number of House representatives and which they will represent based on where people live. This process is called redistricting. States are free to decide what process to use to draw its new district maps, as long as the process adheres to federal law. In most states, the state legislatures draw congressional district maps, and some states use commissions to do this job.

Before 2010, the California Legislature drew the state's congressional district maps. In 2010, California voters gave this job to the Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission). The Commission includes 14 members: 5 Democratic members, 5 Republican members, and 4 members who are not registered with either of those political parties. In addition to federal laws, like districts should be close to the same size, California state law requires, among other things, the Commission to avoid splitting up neighborhoods or local communities of interest to the extent possible. State law also prohibits the Commission from considering political parties, current office holders, or people running for office when it draws the maps.

New congressional district maps are typically redrawn every ten years after the census. However, in August 2025, the Texas Legislature adopted new maps drawn by the legislature for the 2026 elections. Several other states also are considering changes to their maps before the 2026 elections.

The maps currently in use in California were drawn by the Comission for California's 52 congressional districts. See the current district boundaries here. If you're wondering who your representative is and what district you live in, you can find out here.

Prop 50 was placed on the California November 4, 2025 Special Election ballot as a constitutional amendment based on a vote with 2/3 approval in both houses of the state legislature in response to the Texas state legislature redrawing their district maps in August 2025 in a way that makes it likely that 5 Democratic representatives from their Texas will be replaced with Republicans in the mid-term election in 2026.

IF CALIFORNIA VOTERS APPROVE PROP 50...

If the majority of California voters vote YES on PROP 50, the following 2 things would happen:

California's current congressional district maps drawn by the Commission, would be replaced with new, legislatively drawn maps. The total number of districts would not change, but representatives from districts could change. The state would use Proposition 50's maps for congressional elections starting in 2026 through 2030. The intent of the new maps is to give Democratic party candidates a greater chance to win up to 5 additional seats in the mid-term election as June, as follows:
- The three seats held by Republican Representatives Doug LaMalfa (District 1), Kevin Kiley (District 3), and Ken Calvert (District 41) would most likely result in Democratic party candidates being elected instead of Republicans. The two seats held by Republicans David Valadao (District 22) and Darrell Issa (District 48) would be given an even chance of having a candidate from the Democratic party elected instead of a Republican.

The state would use these maps until the Commission draws new district maps, following
the 2030 U.S. Census for elections ocurring after to 2031.

MORE INFO ON PROP 50

The proposed maps as seen here and are documented as seen here in Assembly Bill 604.

Proposed districts are shown overlaid on current districts here.

The actual text of the bill that propses Prop 50 is here.

Special Election information from the California Secretary of State can be seen here.

For background on how this election and Proposition 50 came about click here.

Beware of false information that is already circulating. On August 27, 2025 he California State League of Women Voters issued a statement regarding Prop 50 that clarifies our goal to ensure that the full diversity of California voters participate in the November 4, 2025 election, and our commitment to providing every voter access to the non-partisan, factual information they need to cast an informed vote. You can read the entire statement from the California State league here.

Local Ballot Measure for Truckee

This special election will also provide voters registered in Truckee the ability to vote on a Special Tax and Bond measure for the Truckee Library. See the election details of that measure here.

2026 Elections

June 2, 2026 Primary Election

The California Primary Election on June 2, 2026 will include all Nevada County registered voters. This election will include various local, state, and Congressional offices.

Key dates related to this election include:

Last day to register to vote: May 18, 2026
Vote-by-mail ballots will begin to be mailed: May 4, 2026
Early voting sites will open: May 4, 2026

November 4, 2026 Gubernatorial Election

The California state Governor and Congressional offices will be on this ballot. You can see more details on this election here.

Registering to Vote

It's important to have your current address on your voter registration - and changing your address is easy. Check if you are currently registered to vote at your current address here. If you don't get registered before election day, you can still vote by going to a Voting Location to register and vote on the same day as the election. If you need to register and vote from home, contact the County Elections Office to find out how to register and get a vote by mail ballot through Election Day.

Everyone in California Receives a Vote-By-Mail Ballot

All California registered voters will receive a Vote-By-Mail ballot at the address listed when they registered. Check if you are currently registered to vote at your current address here. You can fill out your ballot and return it by mail, at a drop-off location, or at the County Elections Office at 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City. You can also vote in person. The in-person voting locations offer voter registration, replacement ballots, accessible voting machines, and language assistance. In-person vote centers and ballot drop-of locations for the previous election were here. Locations for the upcoming elections have not yet been confirmed.