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-Editorial
California is gearing up for an unprecedented special election on Nov. 4. New congressional districts are on the ballot — and the balance of power in Congress.
This election is all about representation. President Trump ignited a mid-decade redistricting battle, demanding new congressional maps in Texas to favor the Republican Party ahead of next year’s midterms. Now, California is attempting to
Counterbalance this move through new maps proposed in the upcoming special election.
Nonpartisan voting rights experts from Common Cause detailed what this special election means for Californians, the key information voters need to know, and how voters can find nonpartisan help making their voices heard at the polls.
Brittany Stonesifer, Voting Rights and Redistricting Senior Program Manager for California Common Cause, said her organization’s goal is to close voter participation gaps that persist across the state.
“California is an incredibly diverse state, yet our voter turnout does not represent that,” Stonesifer said. “The California electorate is usually whiter, wealthier, and older than the actual population.”
Citing U.S. Census data, Stonesifer noted that while white adults make up 41% of California’s population, they account for 55% of likely voters. In contrast, Latinos represent 35% of the adult population but only 21% of likely voters. “These disparities have been persistent across elections, adding to the urgency of this moment,” she said.
Stonesifer highlighted California Common Cause’s nonpartisan Election Protection program, which trains volunteers to serve as a “first line of defense” against voter intimidation, misinformation, and access barriers. The organization’s multilingual voter hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE, offers assistance in more than 10 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
She also reminded voters that all registered Californians will automatically receive a mail-in ballot and can cast votes by mail, at drop boxes, or in person between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day. Same-day registration will also be available at polling sites.
“Being heard and fairly represented starts by showing up at the ballot box,” Stonesifer said. “Our goal is to ensure every eligible voter can participate fully and confidently in this election.”
Darius Kemp, the new executive director of California Common Cause, emphasized the importance of fair maps and transparent redistricting during remarks ahead of the November 4 special election focused on representation. Kemp described Common Cause as “the people’s lobby,” a nonpartisan democracy reform and voting rights organization active in every U.S. congressional district.
He noted that fair maps are essential for fair representation and a fair future, citing California’s independent redistricting commission as a national model. Kemp highlighted the organization’s decades-long efforts to end partisan gerrymandering and ensure voters—not politicians—come first.
He also pointed to recent victories, including Measures DD and LL in Los Angeles, which created independent redistricting commissions for the city and school district. Kemp said California Common Cause continues to support education and public participation in local redistricting, having monitored more than 60 local jurisdictions during the 2020 cycle.
