A measure is on the ballot in November that would nearly double the size of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Here’s what citizens should know before they cast their vote.

Why change the size of the board?

The powerful county council currently has five members, each representing 2 million people and managing a $46 billion budget. The proposal, which supporters say is long overdue, would increase the size of the body to nine members.

The idea is that members represent fewer people and smaller geographic areas and can thus better respond to the needs of their districts.

“It is time to expand the board to better represent the wonderful diversity of Los Angeles County,” said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, one of the measure’s authors, at a recent board meeting.

Two current supervisors have said they oppose the measure.

“I’m not sure how we can put the infrastructure in place as proposed without additional funding if it’s just a matter of reallocating funds,” District Councilor Holly Mitchell said previously.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger said there is nothing wrong with the current structure of county government; the problem lies with elected officials.

“While there are certainly many people to blame, we should be aware that it is usually not the structures that prevent us from moving forward, but often the inability to make decisions,” Barger said.

What else would change as a result of the measure?

If passed, the proposal would also make the district’s CEO an elected position – similar to a mayor – rather than appointed by board members, and would create an independent ethics commission to place greater restrictions on lobbying and investigate misconduct.

And it would create the position of a nonpartisan legislative analyst who could review the county’s legislative proposals. The city and state have similar positions.