Typically, in the United States, election results are clear by election night or the following morning. But California presents a different scenario.
On June 2, voters statewide participated in significant races, including the gubernatorial contest to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Los Angeles mayoral race.
However, even days later, some results remain too close to call.
Republican Steve Hilton reportedly led the gubernatorial race with 27.2% of the vote, followed closely by Democrat Xavier Becerra at 26% and activist Tom Steyer at 20.2%. In Los Angeles, Karen Bass was in the lead with about 35% of the vote, while Spencer Pratt and Nisya Raman had around 29% and 23%, respectively.
Experts note that the delay isn’t due to a malfunction; rather, it stems from California’s voting system design.
“No other state has as extensive a voting system as California,” remarked Republican consultant Mike Madrid. “The state provides various voting methods and fewer restrictions, compounded by its vast population.”
Why does counting take so long?
California accommodates voting by mail, in-person at vote centers, secure drop-boxes, and provisional ballots. While officials can prepare and process many mail-in ballots ahead of Election Day, counting begins only after polls close.
Pollster Paul Mitchell explained that the system emphasizes access over speed.
“It’s fundamentally about letting people choose how they want to vote,” he said. “Voters can mail their ballots, go to polling places, or use drop boxes.”
Moreover, California accepts ballots received after Election Day if they are postmarked on or before the deadline. Voters can also address specific signature or ID issues within 14 days, giving election officials more time to check ballots that might otherwise be discarded.
“California law focuses on counting all valid votes, not just the ones that come in quickly,” noted a spokesperson from the Los Angeles County Registrar’s Office.
Mitchell added that many voters tend to submit their ballots just before the deadline.
“A lot of voters are mailing their ballots to be postmarked on Election Day or the day prior,” he said. “This might result in us receiving hundreds of thousands or even millions of ballots after Tuesday.”
Logistical issues could contribute to further delays.
In locations like Capitola, ballots may be sent to a central sorting facility before returning to the local registrar. Similarly, in remote areas like Independence, mail can travel long distances before arriving back home.
“If a ballot goes to the wrong county within that two-week window, the law allows it to be forwarded and still counted,” Mitchell explained.
Election officials are also tasked with verifying signatures, resolving registration issues, and processing ballots that were misplaced before sending them off to the correct county.
Staffing levels play a role as well.
Counties are under pressure to handle a heavy workload in a tight time frame, and boosting temporary staffing to expedite counting will usually require significant funds.
“We believe if the state funded larger teams for county registrars, it could speed up ballot counting. But rapid changes require a substantial investment,” Mitchell said.
Currently, there are between 600 to 700 employees at the county level, including both seasonal and full-time workers.
Tradeoff: Access vs. Speed
Proponents of California’s approach argue that it aims to enhance participation and minimize voting barriers. Critics contend that prolonged counting, even without evidence of misconduct, may weaken public trust.
“The longer the process, the more speculation arises about what’s happening,” Madrid noted. “Long counts can reduce confidence in elections. It’s not about integrity; it’s about efficiency. People start asking, ‘Why is it taking so long?’ And that’s something California needs to address.”
Madrid referred to the situation as a “double-edged sword.”
“It’s vital to inspire confidence while empowering voters with choices,” he said. “But we risk compromising that goal if counting takes weeks. Confidence in the system should not be undermined.”
This debate has also taken on political dimensions.
Former President Donald Trump has criticized California’s election process, especially on social media, claiming that Democrats are attempting to manipulate primary outcomes without substantiating these allegations.
Comparison with Other States
California’s lengthy counting process contrasts sharply with many states, which often report results within hours of poll closures.
States like Florida and Texas manage high volumes of mail-in votes ahead of elections and enforce stricter deadlines for ballot submissions, so they typically release unofficial results quickly. In fact, Florida counted over 11 million votes in the 2024 presidential election and shared most results shortly after polls closed.
Other Democratic-leaning states, such as Oregon and Washington, also rely heavily on mail-in ballots but tally fewer votes overall and don’t govern elections on the same scale.
A spokesperson commented, “We can compare certification dates with other states, although it will require time. The key difference is size; California and Los Angeles County have a significantly higher number of voters.”
Madrid highlighted California’s struggle to balance voter access with timely outcomes.
“California seeks to maximize participation,” he said. “The trade-off can lead to a considerably longer count for all legitimate ballots.”
What to Expect Next
So far, around 5.17 million votes have been counted, representing 56% of the anticipated total. This leaves about 4.06 million ballots still uncounted.
Mitchell suggested that future updates could see more substantial changes, as various mail-in ballots are still being processed.
“Early ballots are counted first,” he pointed out. “We can expect larger updates in the coming days.”
Analysts generally predict that the remaining uncounted ballots will likely lean Democratic, particularly in Los Angeles, where Democratic registrations far exceed Republican ones.
“There are still outstanding Democratic ballots, so prospects for Democratic candidates should improve,” Madrid indicated.
Regarding Steve Stayer’s chances, he suggested they’re slim and diminishing. “It’s theoretically possible, but it becomes increasingly difficult, given that each passing day without a significant change means fewer votes left to count,” he said.
In the Los Angeles mayoral race, incumbent Karen Bass, with almost 35% of the vote, is ahead, while Spencer Pratt and Nitya Raman trail with around 29% and 23%, respectively, amid a heated competition for a runoff spot.
“For Nisya, her advantage lies in the abundance of Democratic votes still to be counted compared to Republican ones, especially in Los Angeles,” Madrid added.
Election officials have stated that ballot processing, verification, and counting will persist over the upcoming weeks.
“It likely will take two to three weeks after Election Day for the complete results,” Madrid stated.
“Tight races could extend the counting period further, as every remaining ballot becomes crucial,” noted the Registrar’s Office.
