Item 23 - Councilmember Requested Item to Prepare a Resolution in Support of California Proposition 50

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CITY OF SANTA ANA y ioc Councilmember Requested Item Report DATE October 7, 2025 TOPIC RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT of Proposition 50 — The Election Rigging Response Act COUNCILMEMBER REQUESTED ITEM TITLE Discuss and Consider directing the City Manager to direct city staff to prepare a resolution in SUPPORT of California's Proposition 50, also known as the 'Election Rigging Response Act'. (Submitted by Councilmember David Penaloza) DISCUSSION Proposition 50, known as the Election Rigging Response Act, will appear on the November 4, 2025, special election ballot. This measure is not just another policy question, it is a direct response to the dangerous trend of partisan manipulation of congressional districts, most recently seen in the state of Texas, where maps were redrawn mid-decade to tilt the balance of power. If left unchecked, these practices threaten the very foundation of our democracy and representative government. Proposition 50 ensures that California does not follow that path. It establishes clear and temporary rules that protect our residents by requiring the district maps passed by the Legislature in August 2025 to remain in place through 2030. This provides stability and prevents political gamesmanship in the middle of a decade. After the 2030 census, the state's independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will once again take up its crucial responsibility, drawing district boundaries in a fair, open, and nonpartisan process that prioritizes our state's residents, not politicians. But Proposition 50 is bigger than California alone. By supporting this measure, we send a powerful message to the nation: California will always stand on the side of democracy, transparency, and integrity. We will not allow partisanship to erode trust in elections or to silence communities by rigging the system. This is about protecting the principle that voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. For the City of Santa Ana, endorsing Proposition 50 means standing proudly with our residents in defense of their voice and their vote. It means affirming that our city values honesty and accountability in government. And it means recognizing that if we fail to act, the very fabric of our democracy - fair elections - is at risk. Supporting Proposition 50 is not optional; it is essential. Our democracy is only as strong as our willingness to defend it. By taking this stand, Santa Ana shows not just Orange County, not just California, but the entire country that we will not tolerate election rigging and we will fight for fairness at every level of government. SUBMITTED BY Councilmember David Penaloza EXHIBIT(S) Exhibit 1 — California Proposition 50 Resolution in SUPPORT CITY ATTORNEY CITY MANAGER CITY CLERK Sonia R. Carvalho Alvaro Nunez Jennifer L.Hall 20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA-P.O. BOX 1988, M31 -SANTA ANA,CALIFORNIA 92702 TELEPHONE(714)647-6900-FAX(714)647-6954-www.santa-ana.org