Why California's Election Results Take Longer Than Other States

California's election results often take longer to finalize than those in other states due to its substantial registered voter population and a significant number of mail-in ballots. The state, with 23 million registered voters, allows vote-by-mail ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted if they are received within seven days after the election. Additionally, provisional ballots must also be tallied.

The process of counting mail ballots involves validating each voter's signature against those on file, a time-consuming task. County election officials have up to 30 days following an election to complete the counting.

During the June 2 primary election, over 89% of Californians voted by mail, according to Secretary of State Shirley Weber. The results for that primary were certified on July 10. ABC News projected the final two candidates for the gubernatorial general election about a week after the primary, with Democrat Xavier Becerra projected on June 5 and Republican Steve Hilton on June 9.

This extended counting period has led to criticism, particularly from President Donald Trump, who has frequently claimed without evidence that California elections are "rigged." Trump has pointed to instances where initial vote tallies shifted after all ballots were counted, such as the Los Angeles mayoral primary where Democrat Nithya Raman eventually surpassed Republican Spencer Pratt after mail-in ballots were fully processed.

An analysis from the University of Florida's Election Lab indicated that as of October 25, 50% of mail ballots accepted by California were from registered Democrats, 29% from registered Republicans, and 21% from those with no party affiliation or registered with a minor party. A separate ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll found that 65% of likely California voters planned to vote by mail, with only 11% intending to vote in person on Election Day.

Despite Trump's repeated assertions against mail-in voting, he himself has voted by mail in Florida. A White House spokesperson stated that Trump supports "commonsense exceptions" for mail-in ballots due to illness, disability, military service, or travel, but opposes universal mail-in voting due to concerns about fraud. A November 2025 analysis by the Brookings Institution concluded that voter fraud is rare in mail-in voting.

State officials, including Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Governor Gavin Newsom, have publicly affirmed the security and accessibility of voting in California, encouraging participation.

California is not the only state with a lengthy vote-counting process. Alaska, for example, accepts ballots up to 15 days after an election and delays certification until then, citing a desire for accuracy. Pennsylvania also has regulations that prevent counties from opening early-counted ballots until Election Day morning.