Vote Early Day is a civic holiday established in 2020 on Oct. 28 to encourage voters to submit their ballots as early as possible. The day is sponsored by the Vote Early Day organization, which is a national nonpartisan movement of nonprofits, businesses, media companies and election administrators.
California voters have the chance to vote in a special election on Nov. 4, specifically on Proposition 50, which would authorize temporary changes to congressional district maps in response to Texas’s partisan redistricting, according to California Voter’s Guide. Initiated by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the ballot would increase the odds of Democrats gaining five seats in the House of Representatives, according to CalMatters.
On Oct. 28, Vote Early Day and its partners will encourage voters to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, organize marches to polls and host online celebrations, along with several other activities, said Bryce Bennett, the executive director of Vote Early Day.
“Early voting ensures that nobody is left out of our democracy,” Bennett said. “When people wait until the last moments of election day, they often can run into last-minute problems, busy schedules [and] work obligations that can stop them from having a chance to share their voice.”
On Oct. 2, Vote Early Day released a public service announcement informing viewers of the benefits of voting early and reminding Americans that they have the option to do so. The 30-second PSA is set to continue running on several TV stations and social platforms to spread awareness on early voting.
The PSA was created with the support of Paramount– a media partner of Vote Early Day– and will run the video across its channels. Bennett said the organization will also encourage people to share the video across their own social platforms to spread the message further.
Registered California voters will receive mail-in ballots by Monday, Oct. 6 and can begin to drop off their ballots at voting locations starting Tuesday, Oct. 7, according to the California Secretary of State website. Voters can track their ballots online.
Once the ballot is filled, voters can drop it off at any of the 400 ballot drop boxes across Los Angeles County or mail in their ballot. Starting Oct. 25, voters can also drop off ballots or vote in person at any of the 251 voting centers. For more information on ballot drop-off locations and hours, voters can visit the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk website.
Bennett said voting early could be especially important for those who have not voted before or have been historically disenfranchised.
“It’s also so vital for people who have faced historical or societal barriers to casting a ballot to make sure that their voices are heard, and early voting is a big piece of making sure that people are able to overcome those barriers,” he said.
Kenleonard Oparaji, director of communications for Trojan Democrats, said the chapter does not have any events scheduled that directly relate to early voter participation.
“So far, it’s just going to be focused more on Prop 50, education and endorsement,” Oparaji said. “And through that, we hope that people are able to learn more about early voting registration day and things like that.”
If Proposition 50 is approved, it would draw new congressional district maps in parts of California for 2026 and will be used until the California Citizens Redistricting Commission draws new maps after the 2030 U.S. Census, according to California Voter’s Guide.
Oparaji said that one issue in increasing current voter participation is that many people are not aware of Proposition 50, which will be at the forefront of the California special election.
“Many college students, they’re not necessarily as familiar with Proposition 50…There seems to be an appetite for people to want to learn more about Prop 50, and if they’re able to vote and participate in these elections,” Oparaji said.
Trojan Democrats will endorse Proposition 50 regardless of whether its members support the initiative or not, according to Oparaji.
Other campus initiatives have also tried to increase student awareness around voting. Ruby Belt, administrative coordinator for the USC Center for Political Future (CPF), wrote in an emailed statement to Annenberg Media that CPF worked to encourage voter participation by hosting the National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 16. The event allowed students to check their voting registration status and learn more about ways to become civically engaged, she said.
“The best ways to get involved with civic engagement on campus are to come to CPF events and engage with political clubs like Political Union, Trojan Democrats, and College Republicans,” Belt said in the statement.
Bennett said that organizations like Vote Early Day want students across the nation to become involved in politics and share their voice by voting and voting early.
“We want to make sure that every student has a chance to share their voice in our democracy,” Bennett said. “We’ve seen already with early voting, starting in communities all across the country . . . especially young people [who] are turning out are wanting to have their voices heard.”