US EditionCalifornia Voting Results Could Come Sooner Under New State Law
The new law aims to speed up ballot counting to within 13 days while maintaining a 30-day certification deadline, with over 80% of voters using mail ballots in 2024, officials said.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 5, requiring county election offices to count ballots within 13 days and keeping the 30-day certification deadline, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
- Experts say California's size and the 2021 change expanding mail ballots have slowed counts, while lawmakers argued the bipartisan bill counters misinformation as some Republicans grew distrustful and Secretary of State Shirley Weber opposed the 13-day deadline.
- Certain ballots—provisional ballots and ballots missing voter signatures—are exempt from the 13-day deadline, and counties that miss it must explain to the secretary of state's office; Los Angeles County Clerk's office says processing will change little despite more than 80% mail voting in 2024.
- Supporters say the law will increase public confidence by providing clearer timing, though some officials warned earlier this year that 13 days may be too short compared with 30 days.
- Operationally, some counties count faster due to space, equipment, and staffing, while mail ballots mean processing can take weeks in large jurisdictions.
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California voting results could come sooner under new state law
California is known for taking weeks to tally its ballots, causing uncertainty and frustration among voters. That could change with a faster turn-around. This content California voters could see faster election results under new state law appeared first on inewsource.
Cal Matters
California voters could see faster election results under new state law
In summary California is known for taking weeks to tally its ballots, causing uncertainty and frustration among voters. That could change with a faster turn-around under a new state law. California’s famously slow vote-counting process could see slight improvements next year after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that gives counties an earlier deadline to tally voters’ ballots. The law, Assembly Bill 5, requires county election offices to count b…
California voters could see faster election results under new state law – Shasta Scout
Election workers process ballots at the Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections office in Sacramento on Nov. 5, 2024. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. You can sign up for their newsletter here. California’s famously slow vote-counting process could see slight improvements next year after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that gives counties an earlier deadline to tally voters’ …
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