Santa Clara County board adds support for Prop. 50 as part of consent items

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Sept. 30 to place the county on record as supporting Proposition 50 on the Nov. 4, 2025 statewide special election ballot.

The action was taken as part of the board’s consent calendar. The measure, as presented in the agenda packet, would direct county administration to take appropriate steps to identify the county as a supporter of Proposition 50 for the Nov. 4 special election. Supervisor Susan Ellenberg moved the consent calendar with the change adding item 9 (the Prop. 50 support position); Supervisor Abakova seconded. The motion carried on a recorded vote with all five board members present voting yes.

County staff and several members of the public addressed the matter in the broader consent discussion earlier in the meeting. Several public speakers opposed the county taking a partisan position, arguing the county should not devote staff time and political capital to a state ballot measure. Supporters told the board that the county’s support would be an expression of the board’s view and that the administration would take the logistical steps necessary to register the county as a supporter.

The board did not adopt language beyond the motion to direct administration to identify the county as a supporter and to take necessary administrative steps. No further binding changes to county policy were made beyond the vote recorded on the consent calendar. The board’s full consent calendar, including the Prop. 50 support position, appears in the Sept. 30 meeting record.