BLACK mobile logo

california

politics

Here's why counting votes in California is taking so long

June 4, 2026

California's primary election results are experiencing typical delays due to the state's extensive mail-in voting system, which accounts for approximately 80% of ballots cast by its 23 million registered voters. The meticulous counting process allows mail-in ballots postmarked by election day to arrive up to seven days later, and county officials have 30 days to complete their counts, with final certification scheduled for July 10, 2026. President Trump has made unsubstantiated claims about election fraud and theft by Democrats, though state officials including Governor Newsom have refuted these allegations and emphasized that the extended timeline is standard procedure.

Who is affected

  • California's approximately 23 million registered voters
  • Incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
  • Reality star Spencer Pratt (mayoral challenger)
  • Los Angeles city council member Nithya Raman (mayoral challenger)
  • Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton
  • Democratic gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer
  • Governor Gavin Newsom (term-limited, cannot run again)
  • President Donald Trump
  • California Secretary of State Shirley N Weber
  • Election officials across California's 58 counties
  • Nearly 6 million registered voters in Los Angeles County

What action is being taken

  • Election officials across California's 58 counties are counting ballots
  • Mail-in ballots are being sorted, validated, and counted
  • Voter signatures on mail-in ballot envelopes are being verified against signatures on file
  • Voters with signature mismatches or missing signatures are being notified
  • County elections officials are reporting results
  • Governor Newsom's office is posting on social media to refute Trump's claims and combat misinformation

Why it matters

  • This election matters because it will determine California's next governor, as current Governor Newsom has reached his term limit, and will decide the future leadership of Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States. The extended vote-counting timeline and President Trump's unfounded fraud allegations highlight ongoing national tensions about election integrity and mail-in voting procedures. California's meticulous counting process, which prioritizes voting rights and election security over speed, demonstrates the complexity of managing elections in the most populous US state with nearly 23 million registered voters. The results will have significant implications for the direction of California's policies and Los Angeles's governance, particularly as Bass became the first sitting mayor since 2005 to fail to avoid a runoff.

What's next

  • Mail-in ballots will continue to be accepted until June 9 (ballots postmarked by election day arriving within seven days)
  • Voters with signature issues have until two days before certification to fix mistakes
  • County elections officials will report results for most ballots by June 15
  • Final results must be reported to the California Secretary of State by July 3
  • The Secretary of State will certify results on July 10, 2026
  • The top two candidates from the gubernatorial primary will proceed to the general election under California's "jungle primary" system
  • Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will face a November runoff election against either Spencer Pratt or Nithya Raman

Read full article from source: BBC