Early returns showed San Francisco voters were nearly split on a proposition that would create a special sign district in a small area along one of the city's major roadways.

With 49 percent of the votes counted, 52 percent of the San Francisco residents casting ballots had voted against Proposition D, while 47 percent had voted in favor.

If approved, the measure would have created a district that would allow signs and billboards along mid-Market Street.

The district would have been exempt from a San Francisco ban on new advertising signs anywhere in the city, and a ban on any advertising signs in the same Market Street area.