California has the largest population of registered voters in the United States, totaling approximately 23.2 million. The state prioritizes inclusivity in its voting process, which contributes to longer vote counting times. In 2021, California passed legislation to send mail-in ballots to all registered voters to enhance accessibility. Democratic Assemblymember Marc Berman, who authored the bill, stated, "Our priority is trying to maximize participation of actively registered voters. What that means is things are a little slower. But in a society that wants immediate gratification, I think our democracy is worth taking a little time to get it right and to create a system where everyone can participate."
Mail-in ballots are known to slow down the counting process, as each ballot must be individually opened and validated. California allows absentee ballots to be processed 29 days before Election Day and accepts mail-in ballots up to seven days after Election Day if they are postmarked by that date. It can take up to a week for the state to determine the total number of ballots cast.
While California requires ID for voter registration, it does not require identification for in-person or absentee voting. Instead, election officials compare the ballot's signature to one on file, which can be a lengthier process. Errors on ballots can further delay the election as voters are given time to correct them.
Ballot curing, the process of correcting errors, is allowed in California, which is one of 24 states that permit curing after Election Day. Most states require ballots to be cured within a week after the election, but California allows voters to correct their ballots until two days before election certification, which can be weeks after Election Day. This lengthy process was evident in the recent Los Angeles mayoral race, where only 63% of the vote was counted the day after the election, with final results expected to take days or weeks to confirm.
