SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Election Day is here, and voters in San Diego County and across California will to decide on the fate of Proposition 50.
All San Diego County vote centers, including the Registrar of Voters in Kearny Mesa (5600 Overland Ave.), will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. for in-person voting or ballot drop-offs.
- In-person voting centers can be found here https://www.sdvote.com/content/rov/en/elections/vote-center-locations.html
- Drop-off locations can be found at https://www.sdvote.com/content/rov/en/elections/ballot-drop-box-locations.html
Currently, the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission determines congressional district borders.
The passage of Prop. 50 would amend the state constitution and give the power to redraw borders to the California Legislature. District lines would be redrawn for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 election cycles, potentially giving Democrats more seats in the House.
Gov. Newsom said Prop. 50 levels the playing field with Texas, which recently redrew its district maps to heavily benefit Republicans.
Should it pass, Republican-majority cities in the county such as Santee, Ramona, and Poway, could end up in Democrat-leaning districts.
Opponents believe Prop. 50 "creates one of the most extreme partisan gerrymanders in modern American history" and is a "threat to democracy and fair elections in California," according to the campaign against the measure.
In a telephone interview with City News Service, Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, urged Californians to vote "no" on Proposition 50.
"I'm urging them not to get manipulated by California Democrat politicians who are just trying to seize power to protect their own a---," DeMaio said, who is also the chairman of the Reform California political group. The group has waged a campaign against Proposition 50 and qualify a voter ID initiative for the 2026 November ballot.
"They need to protect their election because they've done such a miserable job in this state on the issues that matter to voters: cost of living, homelessness, and job losses," DeMaio added.
According to the legislator, California Democrats are using President Donald Trump as an excuse to get what they want.
"If Prop 50 passes, it is a fatal blow to the whole concept of fairness and the very foundation of our democracy undermined," DeMaio told CNS.
He opposed both efforts by California and Texas, and criticized any other state attempting to the do the same.
In October, Rivas and a group of Los Angeles County Democratic legislators conducted a news conference to call on residents to vote yes on Proposition 50 and to "stop Trump's attacks on LA's immigrants and economy."
In a telephone interview on Oct. 2, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D- Hollister, told City News Service that Proposition 50 "is so important because at a time when this president and this administration are bullying other states, led by Republicans, to redistrict congressional lines mid-decade to create an advantage and the opportunity for Republicans to remain in power, we have no choice as a state but to fight back and to advance our own plan to counter this nonsense."
MORE ON PROP. 50:
- Proposition 50 could reshape San Diego County's political landscape
- Newsom rallies support for Prop 50 to redraw California congressional districts
- Proposition 50 faces potential legal battles if voters approve redistricting measure
- New poll shows where San Diegans stand as Prop. 50 vote approaches
- Chair of California Citizens Redistricting Commission details map-drawing process
- EXPLAINER: California voters to decide on temporary congressional redistricting change
City News Service contributed to this report
