This post was updated Nov. 5 at 12:58 a.m.

Californians voted in favor of Proposition 50 on Tuesday, granting redistricting rights to the majority-Democrat California State Legislature through 2030. 

California Democrats – including Gov. Gavin Newsom – introduced the proposition in response to Texas’ middecade redistricting, which would likely grant Texas Republicans five more seats in the United States House of Representatives. State legislators – rather than California’s nonpartisan redistricting commission – will draw congressional lines for the next three elections through 2030. 

The state legislature plans to use this authority to make it easier for Democrats to win an additional five seats, countering Texas’ redistricting push. 

[Related: Students share perspectives, reasoning ahead of Proposition 50 special election]

California has 43 Democrats and nine Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. There are 219 Republicans and 213 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, with three vacancies – two of which Democrats filled previously.

UCLA community members voted at the Kerckhoff Charles E. Young Grand Salon and Hammer Museum’s Bay Nimoy Studio from when polls opened at 7 a.m. until they closed at 8 p.m. 

About 400 people were on line as of 8:05 p.m., five minutes after the polls closed. 

Tiffany Rolon, a third-year English student who was in line to vote at 8 p.m., said she was in line for two hours but did not mind waiting, as she would not have been able to vote otherwise. 

The proposition has garnered support from former President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other prominent Democrats. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are opposed to the move. 

Trump – who encouraged the redistricting push in Texas – called Proposition 50 “Unconstitutional,” “a GIANT SCAM” and “RIGGED” in a Tuesday Truth Social post. 

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission – which was created in 2008 and became responsible for congressional redistricting in 2010 – is set to resume its responsibilities in drawing new districts in 2031. 

Pablo Sanchez, a third-year English student, said a sense of “civic duty” brought him out to vote on Proposition 50.  

“I’ve been trying to do it all week, and between work and school, today was like, ‘Oh my god, I have to go,’” he said. 

Franklin Kelly, a first-year business economics and political science student, said he identifies as a centrist but voted ‘yes’ on Proposition 50 because he believes Texas’ partisan gerrymandering is unfair. 

“Every vote should count equally, … and the partisan gerrymandering in Texas discounts that principle,” Kelly said. “California should respond to make sure that every vote counts equally, whether that’s for Republicans or for the Democrats.” 

Contributing reports from Jenny Michel and Victor Simoes, Daily Bruin staff.