Union Rebuttal: Fact, Not Fiction: What the League Actually Said About Prop 50

Union Rebuttal: Fact, Not Fiction: What the League Actually Said About Prop 50

A version of this article, published in the Nov. 1, 2025, Ideas & Opinions page of The Union, contained a typographical error in Item 1. The version below reflects the correct text.

The League of Women Voters of Nevada County wishes to address multiple inaccuracies contained in the Ideas & Opinions piece published in the October 24, 2025 issue of The Union, written by Jo Ann Rebane, concerning our educational videos about Proposition 50. We encourage everyone to view our five non-partisian videos that explain Prop 50 at http://bit.ly/47n3lkn

  1. Redrawing district lines does not guarantee who will be elected. If the majority of voters in any district vote for a Republican congressional candidate, that is who will be the representative from that district. Drawing districts in a way that creates an advantage for Republican party candidates was done in Texas this year. If voters pass Prop 50, then Democratic candidates will have an advantage in California until after the 2030 census. The potential impact to Nevada County is made clear in our video at  http://bit.ly/47n3lkn with further information from the Legislative Analyst’s Office: https://bit.ly/4nzz48e

  2. Federal law allows all states in the country to draw congressional district maps as often as they choose, however some states have laws that restrict or prohibit it. All states are required to draw those maps every 10 years to allocate congressional districts based on the population in their state. For more information, see: Mid-decade redistricting: https://bit.ly/3L9NcYj and States that allow and  prohibit mid-decade redistricting: https://bit.ly/43I5wh

  1. All states in the country are free to draw the congressional maps however they choose. Ten states in the country (including California) use an independent redistricting commission and the other 40 states (including Texas) use their state legislature to draw congressional maps. States must follow equal-population rules and the Voting Rights Act as outlined here:  https://bit.ly/4ojqRpS. See a map outlining the various processes states have adopted here: https://bit.ly/4nwHjBE 

  1. Although Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights Act on several occasions as outlined here bit.ly/4oQh9v2, the League of Women Voters of Nevada County does not consider that fact relevant to educating voters about Prop 50. 

  1. Prop 50 does not violate the state constitution and in fact is a state constitutional amendment. The Citizens Redistricting Commission was established in the state constitution by voters and requires a constitutional amendment to override it. Voters are presented with the option of instituting that amendment as Section 4 of Article XXI. The actual text is short and simple: https://bit.ly/4nqNSWp

  1. An additional inaccuracy in Ms. Rebane’s opinion piece is her continued reference to our organization as “the ladies.” The League of Women Voters of Nevada County includes both women and men, including a male member of our Board of Directors. A presenter in our Prop 50 educational videos is a man, as seen here: https://bit.ly/4nyZ4R1

It is the full intent of the League of Women Voters of Nevada County to assist voters in understanding the nuances of Prop 50 in order to help them cast an informed vote. It is not our intent to influence either a yes or a no vote. That is confidential and is entirely up to each voter. The League of Women Voters of  Nevada County stands by what we have said as impartial information available to voters. Again, we encourage voters to view our educational videos at http://bit.ly/47n3lkn

Now let’s get out there and vote! 

The League of Women Voters of Nevada County is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging informed voting and active civic engagement.