Whereas major day in California is now over, it may take days or even weeks for remaining vote counts to be decided and a few projections to be made.
Essentially the most populous within the nation state is house to 23 million registered voters, which requires ample time for all ballots to be precisely counted.
However along with the sheer quantity of votes, the state additionally depends on a big variety of mail-in ballots, with some not arriving till every week after voting ends.
In keeping with the California Secretary of State, “vote-by-mail ballots postmarked on or earlier than Election Day and obtained inside seven days after the election, in addition to any provisional ballots forged, should nonetheless be counted.”
County election officers have as much as 30 days after the election to rely ballots. Closing outcomes should be reported to the secretary of state by July 3, 2026.
The method of counting mail ballots and validating voters’ signatures can also be arduous, as every envelope signature should match the signatures on file, which may result in extra delays as effectively.
On this undated file photograph, the California State Capitol is proven in Sacramento, Calif.
STOCK IMAGE/Getty Photos
On Tuesday, preliminary vote counts included early mail, early in-person, and day-of ballots. Early votes have been allowed to be counted forward of time, however not publicly launched till polls had closed.
“On Election Night time, we could have a great image of the result of most contests, however it’s going to take weeks to know the ultimate outcomes. That is regular,” Secretary of State Shirley Weber said in a press release after polls closed.
Nonetheless, as a result of an unknown variety of mail-in ballots stay excellent, it’s doable for incoming votes to form the result of a race, regardless of what early election returns indicated.
By Thursday, California counties are anticipated to offer the secretary of state with an estimated report of remaining unprocessed ballots, which might be shared with the general public.
Nonetheless, this acquainted prolonged delay may quickly grow to be a factor of the previous in California and nationwide. This month, the Supreme Courtroom is anticipated to rule on a case introduced by the Republican Nationwide Committee looking for to finish the observe of counting well timed forged however late-arriving mail-in ballots.
Earlier this yr, the justices hinted that they’re ready to roll again the observe.
President Donald Trump has railed in opposition to California mail-in ballots for years, with the president usually accusing, with out proof, the voting technique of being “rigged” to profit Democrats.
This comes regardless of Trump himself casting a mail ballot earlier this yr to vote in a Florida particular election, which the White Home mentioned certified as a “commonsense exception” to the voting technique that the president helps.
A White Home spokesperson mentioned that Trump has supported “commonsense exceptions” to permit Individuals to make use of mail-in ballots, together with for “sickness, incapacity, navy, or journey,” however that he opposes common voting by mail because of it being “extremely inclined to fraud.”
An evaluation from the Brookings Institution from November 2025 discovered that voter fraud is uncommon in voting by mail.
“As everybody is aware of, the President is a resident of Palm Seashore and participates in Florida elections, however he clearly primarily lives on the White Home in Washington, D.C.,” spokesperson Olivia Wales wrote in a press release.
Presently, 29 states plus Washington, D.C., present a grace interval for late-arriving ballots for not less than some voters. If Republicans prevail within the Supreme Courtroom case, solely ballots obtained on or earlier than Election Day can be legitimate.
Whereas a call this month seemingly wouldn’t influence the California major election, it will take impact for the November basic and runoff midterm elections.
