Letters & flyers: How to participate in our new California campaigns this fall
Californians are voting on whether to adopt new congressional maps under Proposition 50.
Vote Forward is launching an innovative letter & flyer campaign to contact Democratic voters about California’s Proposition 50, ahead of the special election on November 4th, 2025
Because these campaigns are different from Vote Forward's past efforts, please read on before proceeding to adopt voters from any of the California Prop 50 campaigns.
What is this election about?
California’s Proposition 50, also known as the "Election Rigging Response Act," is a countermeasure against mid-cycle partisan redistricting efforts in Texas and other states. If approved by voters, Proposition 50 would allow California to adopt a temporary congressional district map, drawn by the state legislature, from 2026 to 2030. In 2031, the once-per-decade redistricting process would take place as usual, based on the latest Census data.
California voters have the opportunity to vote directly to support or oppose Proposition 50 in a special election this year.
A ‘Yes’ vote on Prop 50 means… allowing California to adopt a new, temporary congressional map designed to offset gerrymandered maps in other states.
A ‘No’ vote on Prop 50 means…keeping the current congressional map in place until redistricting in 2031.
Vote Forward’s campaign to contact voters in California ahead of the Proposition Ballot Measure vote is not only a critical action you can take to protect democracy now, but another important step in our research & innovation agenda to find new effective tactics between now and 2028.
Here’s how it works:
From anywhere in the U.S. (including California), you can adopt California voters, write, and mail letters starting immediately, through October 28, 2025. There is only a Political campaign for this race, meaning the voters in this letter campaign are likely Democratic voters. These voters are all listed as relatively unlikely to vote, according to our data, so your letters could really make a difference in whether they choose to show up for November’s election.
NEW: If you live in California, you are able to download, print, personalize, and distribute flyers in your state. Unlike letters, the flyers are not labeled with individual voter names or addresses, so that you can choose where and how to use them in your own local area. For ideas & guidance on how to distribute flyers, see the “How do I use flyers” section below.
Here's a preview of the flyer and letter designs—but be sure to adopt and download from your dashboard as usual!
Sample flyer template in color version.
Sample letter template in black and white.
What to write:
The message that you will write in your letter or on your flyer should be nonpartisan (meaning no mention of parties or candidates), positive, and authentic to you. As with all your Vote Forward letters, we ask that you follow our best practices for crafting a compelling personal story about why voting matters to you. You can review our guidance here.
For the California campaign specifically, it’s important not to use language that advocates for or encourages individuals to vote for passage of Proposition 50, e.g. “Vote for Prop 50 because..” or “I will vote for Prop 50 because..”. This is not a suggestion, it is a legal requirement that we need to follow for these campaigns. Instead, talk about voting as a positive, meaningful experience. We say positive not to dismiss real challenges in our world, but because we know messages that generate excitement about voting help motivate letter recipients to cast a ballot.
Instead of this → say that!
I want to be part of a blue wave. → I want to be part of a movement for change.
Your vote on Prop 50 matters because it’s your duty to vote. → I believe that every voice deserves to be heard, and every vote counts - including yours.
If you don’t vote, you can’t complain. → Voting is an important way for me to express what I care about.
I’m voting YES on Proposition 50. → I’m voting in this special election because I care about fair representation for Californians like us.
We need to pass Proposition 50 to stop Trump. → People are saying a lot of things about Prop 50, so if you’re not sure yet, I encourage you to learn about what’s in the bill.
Ready to write? Head to the Campaigns page to get started.
How do I use flyers?
Write your handwritten message on each flyer, decorate to your heart’s desire, and distribute! Even though these flyers are a bit different from our standard Vote Forward letters, each flyer is still intended to be personalized with a handwritten message, because your authentic message is what cuts through the noise and connects with your fellow voters. The flyers will print with a cover page that has blanks instead of names of voters, please disregard this cover page for the flyer campaign.
Think of the flyers as a more flexible version of a Vote Forward letter, and a conversational and informational tool.
You could choose to use them as “in person letters”, and hand-deliver them to people or leave them at doorsteps.
You could also distribute them in public places: hang them up at your local coffee shop, library, or other public bulletin board, share them with your neighbors and friends, post pictures of them on your social media, and generally use them to facilitate a conversation about Prop 50.
You could host a fun flyer maker event at your home or local park, and send attendees home with their own flyers to distribute.
If you want to make flyers but don’t want to distribute locally, or have limited mobility, you could arrange for someone to pick up the completed flyers and distribute.
Are you part of a local organizing group? Bring the flyers to your existing community events, table at the farmer’s market, or otherwise incorporate them into existing elements of your civic life.
We think you’re an expert on your local community and that you should use your best judgment on where to display your flyers. But if you’re looking for tips on where to distribute flyers in order to reach Democratic-leaning voters, check out this helpful precinct-level map from the New York Times.
We are consistently blown away by the creativity and passion of the Vote Forward community, especially when we try new things, so if you have a great flyer distribution idea or tips for others, please write to us at hello@votefwd.org or tag us on social media @votefwd.
Ready to start flyering? Head to the Campaigns page to download your flyers.
FAQs
If I live in California can I write letters?
Yes, you can! The letter writing campaign will work the same way as all our previous writing campaigns. However, for California volunteers, we are encouraging the flyer campaigns, because we think that as a California voter, reaching out to fellow voters in your own community will be even more effective.
If I live outside of California can I download flyers?
If you live outside of California, you are unable to participate in our flyering campaign. The flyers are not unique to a voter, and will not include voter names or addresses for you to address your notes & envelopes.
We cannot send flyers in the mail because 1) there will not be voter addresses listed when you download the flyers and 2) each Vote Forward letter is individualized to a specific voter, including a unique “opt out” code. Every letter must include the voter’s unique code, as well as all of the small print at the bottom of each letter. This code allows the voters to look up important election information and to opt out of future mailings, and it is required by our attorneys.
Why are there two different flyer campaigns?
One campaign offers flyers in full color and one campaign offers flyers in black and white. It is your choice whether to print your flyers in black and white or in color. Each campaign is clearly labeled as “Color” or “Black & White” in the description.
Is there a return address I can use on my letters?
Unlike in our Pennsylvania campaigns, our California Prop 50 letter campaign does not have a return address provided by Vote Forward. You may use your own address if you feel comfortable, but we generally encourage writers to use the First Name + Last Initial + Vote Forward address convention.
Why did my flyers print with a cover page that has some mailing instructions?
The flyers will print with a cover page that has some mailing instructions, but with blank voter information. Please disregard the cover page, it is not necessary for the flyering campaigns, just a feature of our tech systems.
