California Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers have allocated $40 million in the state’s newly approved $351.7 billion budget to accelerate vote counting ahead of the November general election. The funding aims to address criticism following the delayed results in this month’s primary elections, where key races took nearly a week to be decided.

Of the total allocation, $29 million will support counties in hiring additional election workers and upgrading ballot-processing equipment. An additional $10 million is earmarked for a statewide public awareness campaign encouraging voters to return mail ballots before Election Day. The budget also includes $750,000 to combat election misinformation.

California’s vote counting process has faced scrutiny due to its extended timeline. The state allows ballots to be cast by mail, in person at vote centers, via secure drop boxes, and through provisional ballots. While officials may verify and prepare mailed ballots for tabulation before polls close, the votes themselves cannot be counted until Election Day concludes. Furthermore, California permits the counting of mail ballots received after Election Day, provided they are postmarked on or before Election Day.

This policy, which contributes to delays in finalizing results, received renewed attention after the U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to overturn a similar law in Mississippi that was challenged by the Trump administration. The court’s decision effectively maintains California’s current practice regarding late-arriving ballots.

Republican strategist Matt Klink criticized the $40 million investment as addressing only the symptoms of slow vote counting rather than its root causes. He argued that state lawmakers should reconsider laws allowing ballots to arrive after Election Day and other policies, such as universal vote-by-mail and same-day voter registration, to improve efficiency. Klink stated, “Money can buy more staff and equipment, but it can’t fix flawed election laws.”

Supporters of the funding package contend that encouraging voters to submit ballots earlier could significantly reduce delays. Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation, noted that voters’ willingness to return ballots ahead of time could help deliver more timely results. “Voters want to see more timely results, too, and I think if we let them know that they can play a role in achieving that, many would,” Alexander said.

As California prepares for another major election season, the debate continues over how best to balance accessibility, accuracy, and speed in the state’s election process.