I’m Gloria Cruz Cardenas (she/they), The Center’s Chief Impact Officer, urging you to make your voice heard in the County Supervisorial District 1 Special Election on April 8! Voters like you will have the opportunity to elect a new supervisor to represent our community’s needs for the remainder of the current term through January 2029. Your vote in this critical election is a powerful tool to shape the future of our county and protect our LGBTQ+ community.
The County Board of Supervisors plays a crucial role in funding and overseeing health and human services, public safety, behavioral health services, housing programs, economic development, and much more in our binational region. With the board currently short of one member, we must fill the vacant seat to move forward with the county budget and other critical county policies, which will have a significant impact on our community.
This election is only open to residents of Supervisorial District 1, which includes: 
- Chula Vista
- Imperial Beach
- National City
- Some communities within the City of San Diego, such as Barrio Logan, East Village, and Golden Hill
- Unincorporated areas of Bonita, East Otay Mesa, Lincoln Acres, Sunnyside, and La Presa
To confirm whether you are in District 1 and eligible to vote, find your district on the Registrar of Voters website.
Why This Election Matters
This election is happening at a historical moment when our LGBTQ+ community—especially trans and nonbinary people and LGBTQ+ immigrants—are facing increased attacks through anti-LGBTQ legislation, harmful federal actions, and divisive rhetoric. Encouraging our community to participate in the election process ensures that our elected officials prioritize important issues like housing, mental wellness and behavioral health, reproductive justice, and immigration—key challenges for under-resourced residents in District 1 who need courageous advocates on their side.
Local leaders are a critical line of defense to protect our community and ensure we have the resources we need to thrive in our region. With a population of about 650,000 in District 1, it is important we get as many people out to vote. Historically, special elections have lower turnout than other statewide elections, presidential primaries, gubernatorial, yet they continue to play a crucial role in shaping the community.
From housing and healthcare access to environmental justice in the Tijuana River Valley, this election will decide the direction of policies that directly impact our daily lives. We cannot afford to sit this one out—and your vote can make a difference!
How To Vote
All registered voters in District 1 will have received a ballot by mail starting the week of March 10. Here’s how you can cast your vote:
- Mail-in Voting: Complete your ballot at home and return it via U.S. Postal Service.
- Ballot Drop Boxes: Drop off your ballot at one of 29 official drop boxes throughout the district, which will accept ballots until 8pm on April 8.
- Early In-Person Voting: Seven vote centers will be open daily from 8am-5pm through April 7.
- Election Day Voting: On April 8, 13 vote centers will be open from 7am-8pm.
Make a plan to vote and encourage others to do the same because every vote matters!
Stay Engaged & Take Action
The work doesn’t stop with this election. Our community must remain engaged in local advocacy to ensure our voices are heard and to fight for the needs of our LGBTQ+ community.
The Center’s Fierce Advocacy & Civic Engagement (FACE) team continues to mobilize San Diegans across our region to Get Out the Vote in future elections, and we want you to be a part of it! Sign up for our FACE of Change newsletter to stay informed about voter engagement efforts and future opportunities to make an impact.
Let’s show up for this election, for each other, and for our future. Your vote is your power—now is the time to use it.
In community,
Gloria Cruz Cardenas (she/they)
Chief Impact Officer