Following delays and concerns over the pace of ballot counting in California’s recent June primary election, a nonprofit voting advocacy group has released a series of recommendations aimed at accelerating election results while maintaining voter accessibility and election security. The California Voter Foundation proposed multiple reforms intended to shorten the time it takes to finalize election outcomes and improve transparency in the vote-counting process.
The report comes after criticism directed at election officials for the prolonged tabulation period, which extended roughly a week before key races, such as the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral contests, were called. This slow count sparked unfounded allegations of irregularities, including claims from some conservative figures questioning the integrity of the results.
Among the key recommendations are shortening the ballot signature-curing window from 22 to 14 days and expanding voter access to electronic ballot signature-curing tools. The foundation also advocated for enhanced public reporting of unofficial results, with real-time updates and clearer explanations of terminology to help voters track the status of their ballots more effectively. Additionally, the group suggested that counties prioritize counting ballots in extremely close contests first and urged additional state funding to local election offices to speed up ballot processing.
Experts acknowledge the challenges in implementing all these changes before the upcoming November general election. Some recommendations, such as shortening the signature-curing timeline and enabling most close races to be called by the Friday after Election Day through providing precise data on unprocessed ballots, require broader consensus among election stakeholders and improvements in electronic signature-curing infrastructure. Moreover, local election officials have expressed reservations about releasing detailed data on unprocessed ballots, citing concerns that it could detract from the time available to process ballots promptly.
The report notes that while the percentage of ballots counted within two days post-election has declined over the decades—from 81% in 2004 to 66% in 2024—California’s size and robust voting security measures contribute to longer counting times compared to other states. The foundation emphasizes that despite these delays, it remains feasible for most contests to have results determined by the end of election week.
Voters themselves are encouraged to contribute to faster results by returning mail ballots early or choosing to vote in person. Under current regulations, mail-in ballots are counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days afterward. However, recent changes in USPS postmarking practices mean that ballots dropped in mailboxes on Election Day may not be postmarked that same day, increasing the risk of rejection. Data from the June primary revealed over 148,000 mail ballots were rejected, largely due to late receipt and signature mismatches, underscoring the importance of timely submission.
The California Voter Foundation president, Kim Alexander, urged voters to either submit ballots earlier—ideally by the Saturday before Election Day—or to cast ballots directly at polling sites, noting that many counties allow mail ballots to be surrendered in person. She stressed that California need not compromise between election accessibility, security, and timely results, highlighting opportunities to improve all three concurrently through thoughtful reforms and voter participation.