While some Californians were busy carving pumpkins and taking their kids out for Halloween, they were also casting their votes in this year’s election. Now, as Christmas decorations are going up, election officials are still immersed in counting ballots.
Even though most of the votes have been tallied, media outlets have already called the majority of races, including some remarkably tight ones. In Orange County, Democrat Derek Tran emerged victorious last week over the incumbent, Michelle Steel. Alongside a race in Iowa that was finalized the same week, California now holds the unique status of hosting the final unresolved congressional race in the country. This race is happening in the Central Valley’s 13th District, where Democratic challenger Adam Gray was leading Republican Rep. John Duarte by a slim margin of 143 votes, with 99% of the votes counted as of Monday afternoon.
But hold off on any California criticism for the extended timeline. Firstly, California is the most populous state in the U.S. Additionally, every registered voter receives a ballot in the mail about a month before election day. In Los Angeles County alone, Mike Sanchez, a representative from the county registrar-recorder’s office, mentioned that over 70% of voters mailed in their ballots or used drop-off locations. Statewide, close to 90% of voters opted to mail their ballots during the 2022 midterms, based on data from the office of the California secretary of state.
On top of that, Californians are allowed to register and vote provisionally on election day, which understandably adds to the processing time. Ballots needed to be postmarked by November 5 to qualify but could be received by election officials up to a week later. It’s crucial to verify the signatures on these ballots against those on the voter rolls. If discrepancies arise, voters are given the chance to correct, or “cure,” their ballots.
Voters in the state had until December 1 to make any necessary corrections to their ballots, which explains why the counting continues as the Christmas season unfolds.
Since November 6, the day following election day, staff in L.A. County have been diligently processing and counting ballots every day, excluding Thanksgiving. The county even employed round-the-clock shifts the week following the election to manage the workload.
Could the process be sped up in certain areas? Possibly. Some state legislators are exploring methods to make the timeline more efficient. However, what’s critical here is that the deliberate pace ensures voters are provided ample time and multiple options for submitting their ballots and resolving any issues that might disrupt their counting. This meticulous approach upholds the integrity of the election and ensures voter access and opportunity.
Ultimately, waiting on a handful of races that seem to drag on is a small price to pay. The end is near, with all counties mandated to submit their election results for statewide races by Friday—a deadline historically met. The California secretary of state is slated to certify the election results by December 13, plenty of time before the winners officially assume their roles.
