California Election Count: A Call for Accuracy

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber emphasized the need for accuracy in the voting process, stating that it is “more important than speed.” This message was communicated shortly after the vote counting for the June primary elections began. She reminded voters that this counting process could take up to 30 days after Election Day.

Weber highlighted California’s commitment to ensuring that voter rights are protected and that the integrity of elections is maintained. She mentioned that the longer counting times shouldn’t be seen as mere glitches, but rather a recurring issue stemming from current policies.

Her stance is straightforward: every legally cast ballot must be counted, and voters deserve to have confidence in the accuracy of the count.

One week post-Election Day, California was still grappling with the counting process, with approximately 1.4 million votes yet to be processed. The counting methods in place often extend for days and even weeks after ballots have been cast.

This brings up a recurring question: Why do voters face a choice between timely results and accurate counting?

This isn’t the first time California has dealt with prolonged election results. Issues arose during the 2022 elections when legislative races remained undecided long past the deadline, leaving control of the U.S. House in uncertainty. California took a staggering 38 days to finalize results. Now, in 2026, once again, voters are in limbo weeks after they cast their ballots.

So, what’s driving these delays?

The complications stem partly from changes in California’s voting laws. Post-pandemic policies essentially ensure that every registered voter receives a mail-in ballot, which is deemed valid as long as it’s mailed by Election Day and reaches the election office within a week.

Election law expert Hans von Spakovsky observed that these counting delays are tied to the structure of California’s electoral system, indicating they are not unusual or unexpected. Essentially, California is experiencing the effects of its own regulations.

In simpler terms, California faces these predictable delays due to their own legislative choices.

In 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 37, which reinforced mail-in voting as a permanent option for all voters, claiming it added to election integrity. But many Californians now find themselves accepting long waits for results as a norm.

Yet, is this really the case?

Timely results are a fundamental part of maintaining election integrity. As the process drags on, chains of custody and verification systems face more challenges. While delays don’t equal corruption, they certainly foster confusion and mistrust.

If California leaders want to speed up results, perhaps reevaluating their current policies would be wise.

For comparison, Florida, following a well-documented election crisis in 2000, revitalized its electoral administration. Today, Florida stands out among states for providing rapid results.

Florida permits election officials to start verifying mail-in ballots prior to Election Day, giving them a head start. The rules in Florida require that most mail-in ballots arrive by Election Day, limiting the time voters have to correct signature issues.

This shows that speed and accuracy can coexist, contrary to California’s narrative.

California, however, has opted for a different route.

Approaching the midterm elections in just five months, voters deserve assurances that their ballots will be counted accurately and promptly.

It’s time for lawmakers to reexamine whether ballots should continue to be counted after Election Day. Delays should not become an accepted norm. Moreover, officials should have the means to process ballots beforehand, enabling quicker reporting.

Crucially, California leaders must stop framing the quest for speed as an obstacle to accuracy. Florida’s example challenges that notion.

Ultimately, Weber advocates for prioritizing accuracy in elections, and it begs a fundamental question: Why can’t California have both accuracy and speed?

With issues evolving from the 2022, 2024, and the current primaries, the problems seem less like isolated incidents and more like the outcome of systemic policy failures. The state’s election process is structured to potentially delay resolutions for an entire month.

Voters shouldn’t simply accept this situation. They deserve better.