As voting is underway for a special election on Proposition 50 — a measure aimed at reshaping California’s congressional boundaries — the Justice Department (DOJ) announced in a press release Friday that it will send monitors to some polling sites, igniting a debate about whether they’ll be there to safeguard the election or intimidate voters.
Prop. 50 would require the temporary, legislatively drawn map to be used for any federal congressional elections that begin in 2026 and end in 2030. It would also allow California’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw new maps after the 2030 U.S. Census.
Initiated by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the measure serves as a response to Texas’s partisan redistricting that added five GOP seats, according to California’s voter guide. Newsom hopes that this special election ballot would increase the odds of Democrats also gaining five seats in the House of Representatives, according to CalMatters.
“It’s California’s effort to engage in national conversation as a number of conservative states have redistricted themselves in response to pressures from the White House,” said Gordon Stables, the director of the school of journalism at USC Annenberg. “Given its size…If California passes Prop. 50, it may wind up offsetting several other states in terms of their movement from states who are more purple to more Republican seats.”
Ahead of the special election, California’s GOP raised concern over what it considered previous election irregularity.
“In recent elections, we have received reports of irregularities in these counties that we fear will undermine either the willingness of voters to participate in the election or their confidence in the announced results of the election,” wrote GOP Chairwoman Corrin Rankin in a letter sent to the DOJ last Monday, obtained by the AP.
In their Friday announcement, the DOJ outlined that they will be sending election monitors to five polling sites in southern and central California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside and Fresno.
“Transparent election processes and election monitoring are critical tools for safeguarding our elections and ensuring public trust in the integrity of our elections,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, the assistant attorney general of the Civil Rights Division in the press release.
Newsom, who is concerned about election monitors, also warned that the Trump administration could send immigration agents to polling places in an attempt to intimidate voters.
“You’re going to likely see members of our military in and around polling booths and voting places all across this country,” said Newsom during a virtual event to promote Proposition 50. “I would say the same about ICE and Border Patrol, and I say that soberly.”
Newsom offered no evidence that the Department of Homeland Security will station ICE agents at polling sites, but he did mention the Los Angeles launch event for Prop. 50 where immigration agents blocked supporters from entering the area.
“Governor Newsom makes a fair concern. Given that ICE operations seem to be gravitating towards a majority of large public events, I do think that there’s a real concern,” said Stables. ”I imagine that’s one of the reasons why California is considering a variety of ways for citizens to exercise their vote. Mail balloting is certainly one way to ensure that every California citizen has the ability to use their ballot without that concern.”
According to CalMatters, a spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement wrote in a statement that the agency “is not planning operations targeting polling locations,” though agents will make arrests if “a dangerous criminal alien” is pursued near a voting site.
Still, some voters said that the presence of law enforcement close to polling sites could be intimidating.
“As much as you see law enforcement, you see these authority figures, you see them as a point of safety,” said Steven Marikta, a southern California project engineer. “Sometimes when you see these masked faces, you see these people you don’t quite recognize. How are you supposed to look at them as a beacon of hope, instead you just look at them as one more thing to be afraid of … it’s just one more thing to try to bully people.”
It remains unclear whether federal monitors will be stationed during early in-person voting or just on November 4. According to LAist, the Justice Department has not said whether monitors will be onsite at polling places as well as county election offices.
“They’re here to help us. They’re here to make sure our votes are counted and that none of this stuff is messed with or dumped in trash bins. Their votes count and the vote is counted,” said poll worker Stephen Foster. “And that’s what I’m so happy with … here you can register, vote that day, and your vote will be counted.”
But, in addition to Newson, Stables also raises concerns about the use of monitors.
“Election monitors are a really touchy subject, because in theory, we should all be supportive of monitoring to make sure that elections are always under the best practices,” Stables said. “But I think the concern is in the details of: are election monitors people who are election experts that are sent to ensure best practices, or are election monitors, in this case, being designed to intimidate or harass voters at the polls.”
At the Los Angeles County voting center in the Millennium Biltmore Towers, early voting is already underway.
“I believe in fairness, and I kind of disagree with what’s happening in Texas,” Marikta said. “I feel like this is the appropriate response to balance the field a little bit, so I kind of wanted to come and let my voice be heard.”
As a registered Republican, Marikta said he voted yes on Prop. 50. “I believe in a fair election. I feel like what’s happening right now is just unfair … it feels like you’re trying to steal seats that are unearned.”
A new Emerson College Polling survey of California voters finds 57% of likely voters support Proposition 50, while 37% oppose the proposition. Including undecided voters, support for the measure increases to 60%.
“Don’t be scared. Come on out – you know, you have rights,” said voter Keith Dasalla. “Come out and vote. Don’t let these people intimidate you.”