How will California's redistricting measure impact special elections in Santa Clara, Alameda counties?

"As California voters prepare to cast their ballots in a high-profile November special election, the partisan redistricting measure at the center of it could drive a surge in voter turnout for otherwise low-profile local races and issues. In the most consequential statewide special election since Republicans tried to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, voters this fall will decide whether to replace the current congressional district maps drawn by an independent redistricting commission with a gerrymandered plan that aims to flip up to five U.S. House seats from red to blue in next year's midterms."

"But as Newsom and his allies plotted how to respond to the Lone Star State, two Bay Area counties had already planned to hold off-cycle elections in November. In Santa Clara County, voters will elect a new county assessor, following Larry Stone's retirement this summer, and also decide whether to approve a 0.625% general sales tax increase to offset some of the several billion dollars in lost federal revenues over the next few years. In Alameda County, voters living in the Washington Township Health Care District - an area comprising Fremont, Newark, Union City, Sunol and the southern part of Hayward - will vote on a parcel tax to fund emergency and trauma services at Washington Hospital."

"Voter turnout for these types of special elections typically tends to be "abysmally low," according to Eric McGhee, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California. Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Matt Moreles said in a statement that turnout has "not been as high as regularly scheduled general or primary elections, typically ranging between 20% to 35%." In June, the special District 3 San Jose City Council race had an even lower voter turnout at 17.73%."

California voters will decide Proposition 50 in a November special election that would replace maps drawn by an independent commission with a gerrymandered plan aiming to flip up to five U.S. House seats. The measure was triggered by an effort from Texas Republicans to increase the GOP congressional majority in 2026. Santa Clara County will elect a new county assessor and consider a 0.625% general sales tax to offset multi-billion-dollar federal revenue losses. Alameda County voters in the Washington Township Health Care District will vote on a parcel tax to fund emergency and trauma services at Washington Hospital. Typical turnout for off-cycle local elections ranges roughly 17% to 35%.

Read at The Mercury News