San Diego Rejects Tax on Second Homes Left Vacant Much of Year

San Diego voters on Wednesday were rejecting a ballot measure that would impose an $8,000 tax on second homes left vacant for more than half the year, dealing a setback to housing advocates who argued the policy would help ease the city’s housing shortage.

Measure A was losing 58% to 42% Wednesday morning, according to county election returns, with about 375,000 ballots still to be counted.

The proposal would have applied an $8,000 tax to homes that were not primary residences and were left vacant for more than half the year, with an additional fee for homes held by ...