Polls open today for California's special election, but most of the vote may already be in

"Polling places throughout California open today for a special election that could help Democrats' efforts to quell President Trump's agenda but, if trends hold, most of the votes may have already been cast. Since 2020, more than eight in 10 Californians during statewide general or special elections have voted by mailing their ballot, depositing it into an official drop box or returning it to a local voting center, according to a new analysis by UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies. Back in 2008, nearly six in 10 voters in California went to the polls and used a voting machine on Election Day."

"Political analysts expect that significant shift toward early voting to hold true for today's special election for Proposition 50, a ballot measure that would change California's congressional district boundaries to favor Democrats. The measure, backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders, was placed on the ballot to counteract a redistricting plan intended to give Republicans more seats in Texas and other GOP states at the behest of Trump, aimed at keeping Congress in Republican hands."

Polling places throughout California opened for a special election centered on Proposition 50, a measure to redraw congressional boundaries to favor Democrats and counteract GOP redistricting efforts. Since 2020, over 80 percent of Californians in statewide elections have used mail ballots, official drop boxes, or voting centers, compared with nearly 60 percent voting in person in 2008. Political analysts expect the early-voting trend to persist for this special election. Expanded voting windows and easier methods have encouraged continued use of early voting, and COVID-era changes prompted leaders to urge alternatives to in-person voting.

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