Millions of ballots remain to be counted in California following the state's primary election, with officials continuing the tally process as several races remain undecided.
An estimated 3.6 million ballots are still outstanding, according to data from the secretary of state released Thursday evening. These unprocessed ballots, predominantly vote-by-mail submissions, possess the potential to significantly alter the outcomes in various close contests.
To date, approximately 5.6 million ballots have been processed statewide. In Los Angeles County alone, 1.4 million ballots have been counted, with an additional 700,000 awaiting processing. Vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received by county election officials within seven days following the election are eligible for inclusion in the final count.
County election officials are mandated to provide daily updates to the secretary of state on the number of unprocessed ballots until the tabulation is complete. Election observers are advising patience, emphasizing that the extended counting period reflects a commitment to accuracy rather than any procedural deficiencies or fraud, especially in closely contested races for governor and Los Angeles mayor.
Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University, stated, "We allow people lots of different avenues to vote, and as a result it takes longer to count up all the votes. And that’s how it should be. ... It’s an argument in favor of making sure the process runs correctly — not quickly."
The counting process has been notably slower in Los Angeles County, a factor attributed largely to the county's extensive voter population. The thorough verification of mail-in ballots, including signature checks and opportunities for voters to rectify discrepancies, contributes to the extended timeline. Kamy Akhavan, managing director at the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, noted, "They’re using that level of care because they’re supposed to — that’s their protocol — and also because it could make a big difference. We’ve seen some elections in Southern California decided by single digits. And that just means this is going to take time."
