California Election Delays: Speeding Up Vote Counts & Restoring Trust
SACRAMENTO — House Speaker Mike Johnson recently asserted that California’s election tabulation process is “fraudulent,” echoing claims made by former President Trump regarding the 2024 elections. Johnson alleged that the state’s practice of continuing to count ballots for weeks after election day cost the GOP three House seats. These accusations come as California continues to grapple with the lengthy process of counting ballots, a system designed to maximize voter participation.
The prolonged tally, while intended to encourage broad participation, has fueled distrust in the electoral process. California mails a ballot to every registered voter, contributing to a high volume of ballots that require processing. More than 16 million residents voted in the last presidential election, a figure exceeding the population of all but ten states.
Kim Alexander, head of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation, argues that the state needs to find ways to improve the speed of tabulation without compromising accessibility. “We demand to stop explaining why it’s taking so long and start figuring out how to [produce election results] in a more satisfying way,” she said. “We find a lot of things that we could do better and do differently. It just takes some creative thinking and some will.”
Alexander, who has worked on election efficiency and transparency for over three decades, highlighted several potential improvements. She emphasized the need for increased funding for California’s 58 counties to expand equipment, staffing, and processing space. Currently, the state often asks local election officials to absorb increased costs without full reimbursement.
She also suggested expanding the “sign, scan and go” system, a pilot program implemented in Placer County that allowed voters to return mail ballots in person at designated polling places, reportedly shaving three to four days off processing time. Statewide implementation could expedite the process.
Another proposed solution involves streamlining California’s voter database management. Currently, counties oversee their own data and feed it into a central system, creating delays. A centralized, top-down approach could improve efficiency. Alexander proposed creating “ballot swap” days to expedite the delivery of out-of-county ballots to their respective home counties for tabulation. Under current law, voters can return ballots anywhere in the state, but routing them to the correct county can take over a week.
The challenges extend beyond logistical hurdles. The increasing popularity of voting by mail adds complexity, as many ballots arrive after election day. The state employs numerous safeguards to prevent fraud and ensure accuracy, including signature verification and checks to prevent duplicate voting.
Governor Gavin Newsom recently defended California’s election system against attacks from Trump, potentially positioning himself for a future presidential run in 2028. Speeding up the delivery of election results could bolster his credentials and address ongoing concerns about the state’s tabulation process. The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, adding another layer of national attention to the state.
As of now, no legislative action has been taken to address the tabulation delays. The question remains whether lawmakers will prioritize election reform and address the concerns raised by Alexander and others, or whether California will continue to face scrutiny over its lengthy election counts.