Election officials start informing San Diego County voters about redistricting special election

More than 2 million registered voters in San Diego County will soon be getting information in the mail from county election officials about the special election on congressional redistricting set for Nov. 4.

Only a few local voters will see anything local on the ballot — for instance, voters in one Poway City Council district will get to decide whether to remove their council member from office.

But the big race all California voters will get to decide is a Democratic-led ballot measure, Proposition 50, that would redraw the state’s congressional districts — part of a nationwide gerrymandering arms race between political parties.

Ballots will go out the week of Oct. 6. Voters can vote by mail, in person at voting centers throughout the county or return their ballot to one of the Registrar of Voters’ ballot drop boxes.

Local election officials statewide have been scrambling to prepare for a special election in which Californians will weigh in on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s and legislative Democrats’ efforts to redraw the state’s congressional districts.

Voters are being asked to temporarily override the state’s independent redistricting commission and let the Legislature redraw congressional maps, in an effort to give Democrats an advantage in future races. The move aims to counter Republican redistricting in Texas that aims to ensure GOP control of Congress in next year’s midterms.

Last month, a poll for The San Diego Union-Tribune found that only a slight majority — 52% — of San Diego County voters supported the California efforts. Another 37% said they opposed it, and 11% were not sure. Fewer voters said they would vote in favor of the proposal if the election were held today.

The county encourages voters to vote early in the special election if they want to vote in person. Some vote centers will be open starting Oct. 25, with all vote centers open on Nov. 1 through Nov. 4, the final day of voting.

Voters can return their ballots by mail or to a ballot drop box from Oct. 7 through Nov. 4.