Election: Early voting for Prop 50 continues in Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — On Tuesday, voters up and down California will head to the polls to answer one question.

That question, the so-called Proposition 50, will have them decide whether to give the state legislature authority to redraw congressional districts.

“For me, it’s kind of important that I’m able to do something,” said voter Zoey Dingman.

At San Francisco City Hall, there was a steady stream of voters Sunday afternoon.

CA Election: Everything you need to know about Prop 50

Some, like Robert Mintz and Maxine Bauer, told us they were keen to get their votes in early.

“I think people are waking up and they need to not be so passive and fight back,” said Mintz.

Mintz believes Prop. 50 is a way to push back against the mid-decade redistricting efforts in Republican-led states like Texas.

“I think it’s important to have fair elections and right now one side, it seems they’re trying to fix the future elections in 2026 and 2028,” said Mintz.

MORE: New polls show Californians overwhelmingly support Prop 50 ahead of Election Day

But that mindset can lead to a dangerous game of tit-for-tat, says the chair of the San Francisco Republican Party Bill Jackson.

Jackson says he opposes Texas’ efforts to redraw its congressional maps but thinks Prop. 50 is not the appropriate answer.

“We should be holding our line and trying to get more states to have independent districting commissions, rather than just allowing politicians or whoever’s in power to rig the system for their own benefit,” said Jackson.

Jackson worries that, if passed, Prop. 50 will disenfranchise voters in more rural parts of the state.

MORE: Prop 50: In a California GOP stronghold, voters are not happy with Newsom’s plan to help Democrats

He also has concerns that it won’t end in 2030 as it’s intended to currently.

“I think it’s a real risk. If we just keep with the increased polarization, why wouldn’t the California legislature put another initiative on the ballot in 2028 or 2030 to say well you know it works for us,” said Jackson.

Nearly 23 million ballots were sent out to voters around the state for this election.

As of Friday, about 5.9 million or 26% of them have been returned.