Election Day voters cast ballots in Sonoma, Napa counties as California decides on Prop. 50 redistricting measure

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The first wave of what were expected to be thousands of voters across Sonoma and Napa counties cast votes in person or returned their ballots early Tuesday as California was poised to decide on a return to partisan-led redistricting of congressional maps as a response to similar moves by Republican-led states.

Voters have until 8 p.m. to drop off their ballot at one of many voting centers or official drop boxes or cast their vote in person before polls close at 8 p.m.

The special election is meant to decide Proposition 50, the statewide redistricting measure that would give legislators the power to redraw congressional districts until 2030, handing Democrats a potential pickup of five seats in the House of Representatives, countering moves to favor Republicans in Texas and other states.

Petaluma voters are also set to decide on a $129 parcel tax to support public schools, and Timber Cove voters are choosing board members for their small water district.

No local measures are on the Napa County ballot.

Here’s what voters and election officials were saying

Drivers honked at a small group of supporters gathered Tuesday morning at the corner of North McDowell Boulevard and East Washington Street waving “Yes on Prop. 50” signs just down the block from the Petaluma Community Center where volunteers prepared to assist voters.

Voter Harper Post of Petaluma supported the mid-decade redistricting effort, which she said would help counter Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts in Texas and other states to retain GOP control of the U.S. House.

Gaining seats in Congress would give Democrats a chance to push back on the administration’s attack on democracy, she said.

“I want to live in a country that is free and I don’t believe the party that is in office is OK,” she said. “Our president is a corrupt man trying to gerrymander districts in other states for his grievous intentions and we need as many seats in Congress as possible to stop that.”

Voting center inspector Rick Olejniczak said about four or five people lined up outside the center before doors opened at 7 a.m. and others had trickled in since to drop off their ballots or vote in person.

The vote center has been one of the busiest during early voting.

Olejniczak estimated and average of about 30 people had come in daily to cast a live vote while another 30 stopped by to return ballots in the days ahead of the special election.

Beyond Prop. 50, Measure I, the parcel tax to help fund secondary schools within the Petaluma City Schools district, also was driving Petaluma voters to the polls, he said.

“It’s a pocket book issue,” he said.

Monday was the center’s busiest day and Olejniczak expected a steady crowd Tuesday.

Petaluma resident Audrey Haglund, who was returning her mail ballot Tuesday, said she voted in the special election because she saw it as a duty, adding that voting is one way constituents can make their voices heard.

“I think it’s important to vote every chance you get especially during these challenging times,” she said.

Here’s more about what’s on the ballot

Proposition 50 proposes temporarily swapping out the state’s independently set congressional districts for a map drawn by the Legislature that would favor Democrats in 2026, offsetting Texas’ bid to enact its own mid-decade redistricting in favor of Republicans.

Voters in the Petaluma City Schools district are being asked to consider Measure I, a $129-per-year parcel tax to help fund secondary schools. The parcel tax, which would be in place for eight years, is expected to raise $3 million annually to boost teacher salaries and cushion a budget shortfall. The measure needs two-thirds approval to pass.

In Timber Cove, voters will select three candidates to fill seats on the Timber Cove County Water District board of directors. Four candidates, including two incumbents, are on the ballot.

Here’s what we know about turnout so far

Nearly 6.7 million ballots had been cast statewide by mail or in person as of Nov. 2, about 29% of all registered voters, according to figures from the California Secretary of State.

Some 41% of the 320,000 registered voters in Sonoma County had voted as of Monday morning. About 38% of the 86,300 registered voters in Napa County had returned a ballot as of Monday.

Where to vote?

Voters who have yet to return their ballot should avoid dropping them in their mailbox.

Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by today to be counted, but the U.S. Postal Service has warned ballots mailed on Election Day may not be postmarked until Wednesday, making the ineligible to be counted.

Voters can instead drop off their ballots or vote in person at a vote center. All centers are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m on Election Day.

Sonoma County voters can visit any of the 14 locations throughout the county.

• Cloverdale: Cloverdale Veterans Memorial Building, 205 W. First St.
• Guerneville: West County Services Center, 16390 Main St.
• Healdsburg: Healdsburg Community Center, 1557 Healdsburg Ave.
• Petaluma: Petaluma City Hall, 11 English St., and Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd.
• Rohnert Park: Rohnert Park Community Center, 5401 Snyder Lane, and Rohnert Park Senior Center, 6800 Hunter Dr.
• Santa Rosa: Finley Center, 2060 W. College Ave.; Rincon Valley Regional Library, 6959 Montecito Blvd.; Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Ave.; and the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters office, 435 Fiscal Dr.
• Sebastopol: Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High Ct.
• Sonoma: Faith Lutheran Church of Sonoma Valley, 19355 Arnold Dr.
• Windsor: Windsor Civic Center, 9291 Old Redwood Hwy. #400.

Three vote centers are open in Napa County.

• American Canyon: American Canyon Holiday Inn Express and Suites, 5001 Main St.
• Napa: Napa County Election Division, 1125 Third St.
• St. Helena: Napa Valley College Upper Valley Campus, 1088 College Ave.

Dozens of ballots drop boxes also are open until 8 p.m. A list of locations can be found on the Sonoma County and Napa County registrar of voters website.

Voters needing to fix their ballot, request a new one or register to vote can go to any voting center for assistance. They also can call local elections offices with questions: Sonoma County Registrar of Voters, 707-565-6800; Napa County Registrar of Voters, 707-253-4321.

When will the first results come in?

Early, initial results will begin to trickle in just after polls close at 8 p.m.

The first results in Napa County will post at 8:01 p.m. and include early ballots processed through the weekend and potentially Monday morning. The tally will be updated again on Nov. 6, Registrar of Voters John Tuteur said.

Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar, said her office plans to release initial results shortly after 8 p.m. and it will include mail ballots processed before Election Day and early in-person votes.

Live election results can be found on the Sonoma County and Napa County registrar of voters results page, and at pressdemocrat.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Paulina Pineda at 707-521-5268 or paulina.pineda@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @paulinapineda22.