California’s election process is unique in that it often extends well beyond Election Day. This is largely due to the state’s significant population and its universal vote-by-mail system. In the 2024 general election, over 80% of the 16.1 million ballots were mail-in, which requires additional time for counting.
Mail Ballot Dynamics
Under California law, mail ballots can be received up to seven days after the election, provided they are postmarked by Election Day. This legal framework means that election officials must verify and count these ballots in the days following the election. Historically, these late-counted mail ballots tend to favor Democratic candidates.
This year, data from Political Data, Inc., a Democratic-aligned firm, indicates that Democratic voters are returning their ballots at a slower pace than in previous elections. This trend could result in an even more pronounced Democratic shift in the days after the election.
Impact on Key Races
In the gubernatorial race, Democratic former US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra is well-positioned to secure one of the two spots in the November election. The other spot is contested between Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Democratic billionaire investor Tom Steyer. The slow return of Democratic ballots may affect the final outcome.
Similarly, in the Los Angeles mayoral race, Republican former reality TV star Spencer Pratt initially led in the first reports but is losing ground to progressive city councilmember Nithya Raman. The anticipated Democratic shift from late-counted ballots makes the final outcome uncertain.
Reactions to the Process
Gubernatorial candidates have advised their supporters to expect slow results and atypical trends. Tom Steyer’s campaign anticipates a larger share of Democratic votes being counted later than in past elections. Meanwhile, Steve Hilton, endorsed by former President Trump, expressed frustration with the slow process, calling it “ridiculous” that results could take days or weeks to finalize.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
