31 Oct Proposition 50 Voting Guide: What to Do If You Need a New Ballot or Made a Mistake

Prop. 50 is a redistricting measure that if passed would redraw California’s congressional maps. (Sydney Fishman / Bay City News)

By Sydney Fishman
Bay City News

As the special election to vote on Proposition 50 approaches Tuesday, The Mendocino Voice has compiled a list of ballot “what-if” scenarios to help voters feel at ease in case they made a mistake on their ballot, misplaced it, or didn’t receive one in the mail.

Prop. 50, a redistricting measure that if passed would redraw California’s congressional maps, asks voters to approve redistricting that could favor Democrats in the 2026 midterm election in response to President Donald Trump’s push to redraw congressional districts in Texas to favor Republicans.

If the measure passes, the new map could add five Democratic-leaning seats into the U.S. House of Representatives.

According to Katrina Bartolomie, Mendocino County’s assessor-clerk-recorder, about 14,000 ballots had already been submitted to the county elections office at the beginning of this week.

In an interview, Bartolomie said the county estimated that operating the election locally would cost up to $351,000, and that the state of California has already reimbursed Mendocino County for the expenses.

Bartolomie said it’s difficult to predict how many people will vote on Election Day, but she expects a large turnout.

“It’s hard to say until we actually get there,” she said. “I do anticipate a big presence of at least people dropping off their ballots or us receiving ballots on Election Day.”

I didn’t receive my ballot in the mail or I’ve lost it. How do I get a new one?

Bartolomie explained that getting another ballot is pretty simple — a voter just needs to go to the polling place nearest to their residence and request a ballot.

[Pulse ed. note: Contra Costa voters can check the county’s Election Day Polling Places page, and the Secretary of State offers a statewide search by address to find the nearest voting locations.]

I made an error on my ballot. How do I fix it?

Each county typically includes instructions on how to fix a mistake on the ballots that voters receive in the mail. In Mendocino County, if a voter has made an error — like accidentally filling in a choice they didn’t mean to or making an ink smudge on the ballot — they can simply bring their spoiled ballot to the elections office and request a new one.

The voter shouldn’t try to erase the smudge or cross out their mistake. They just need to write “spoiled” on the envelope provided with their ballot and bring it to the elections office to receive a replacement.

[Pulse ed. note: In Contra Costa County, however, Registrar Kristin Connelly told KQED that “A simple X through the oval of the incorrect choice and a filled-in oval on their correct choice is enough.” Or voters can also request a replacement ballot.]

What if I have problems with my signature?

Voters can easily make mistakes with their signature — such as forgetting to sign the ballot envelope, signing the wrong ballot such as their family member’s or partner’s, or writing a signature that doesn’t match the one they used when registering to vote.

Oftentimes, a voter’s signature does not match the original signature they used to register to vote because that voter may have registered at a young age.

According to the Mendocino County Elections Office, if election workers have trouble reading a signature or believe it doesn’t match what’s on file, they will make every effort to contact the person to verify their vote before the election ends. The office recommends that people return their ballot as early as possible for this reason.

If someone believes their signature has changed significantly since they first registered, they can also request a new voter registration card from the county elections office.

Important reminders for voting in the special election

It’s crucial to remember that all ballots must be mailed or dropped off at a polling location, drop box, or at the elections office no later than 8 p.m. Tuesday. For those returning their ballot in the mail, the envelope must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the elections office within seven days of the election.

Drop box locations will also be open until the end of Election Day at 8 p.m.

People should always use black or blue ink to fill in the entire square provided on their ballot. Check marks or slashes are not acceptable.

For those voting by mail or dropping off a ballot at a drop box, make sure to sign the vote-by-mail return envelope. Ballots without a valid signature on the envelope will not be counted.

If someone’s spouse, child, or other family member is delivering their vote-by-mail ballot to the elections office, make sure to sign the authorization section on the ballot envelope.

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