Counties will be paid upfront for special redistricting election, California official says

California will foot the cost of redistricting upfront, an official with the state’s Department of Finance told lawmakers on Wednesday.

Legislators are continuing to fast-track a package of bills this week to convene a special election in November where voters will decide whether to implement new, partisan congressional maps for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections. The full legislature is expected to vote Thursday on the package, Democratic leadership has said.

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Led by Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Democrats, the effort is meant to “neutralize” similar partisan redistricting moves in Republican-controlled states, including Texas.

Local elections officials had expressed concerns about the c