Why does it take so long to count votes in California? Here's what to know.
Summary
California takes a long time to count votes because many people use mail-in ballots, which can be returned up to a week after Election Day if postmarked on time. The state also carefully checks signatures and allows time to fix issues to make sure every valid vote is counted.Key Facts
- In the 2024 presidential election, about 13 million of 16 million votes in California were cast by mail.
- California sends mail-in ballots to all registered voters automatically.
- Mail-in ballots can be counted if postmarked by Election Day and received up to one week later.
- Many voters wait until the last minute to mail their ballots, which slows counting.
- Signature checks involve machines and manual reviews to confirm voter identity.
- California focuses on a careful, strict process to ensure election security and accuracy.
- The 2026 primary includes competitive races for California governor and Los Angeles mayor.
- Governor Gavin Newsom urged counties to speed up vote counting to reduce misinformation about election security.
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