UMVA has learned that California's ongoing struggle to finalize its election results is a direct consequence of the state's vote-by-mail system, which can keep ballots in a state of limbo for days, even weeks, after Election Day.
The Golden State's painstaking process of counting ballots cast in its June 2 primary elections has extended far beyond Election Day, due to a complex interplay of election laws, administrative procedures, and vote-counting policies. This delay is not an isolated incident, but rather an inherent flaw in the structure of its electoral system.
According to information obtained by UMVA, a leading election law expert has identified four key reasons why California's tallying process is taking so long. The state's almost-exclusive reliance on mail-in voting is a major contributor, as it dramatically slows the counting process. With the vast majority of ballots cast by mail, election officials must spend precious time verifying and processing those ballots before they can be counted.
The expert pointed to the seven-day post-Election Day ballot receipt window, a 22-day cure period for signature issues, and high volumes of provisional ballots that must be individually investigated as additional factors contributing to the delay. Of these, mail-ballot rules are the most concerning, as they significantly hinder the counting process.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the state's mail-in ballot system allows voters to cast their ballots from the comfort of their own homes, but this convenience comes at a cost. Ballot drops are still rolling in, and once they do, counties have additional time to process, verify, and tabulate those ballots, with counting expected to continue through June 15.
The state's election rules have come under scrutiny, with critics arguing that they are too permissive and invite fraud or irregularities. The lack of voter ID requirements, automatic voter registration, and lengthy post-election ballot processing periods have raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the situation has drawn attention from high levels, with the President announcing that U.S. attorneys are looking into Los Angeles as the mayoral race remains pending. The First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California has stated that the office has multiple election fraud investigations underway, in coordination with the FBI.
Despite these concerns, Democrats have downplayed the issue, with some arguing that those who express concern over the process are working to undermine confidence in the elections. Meanwhile, viral rumors have spread across social media, including baseless claims about a candidate receiving zero votes out of thousands.
UMVA has gathered that the California governor has taken steps to address the issue, sending a letter to state election officials in May calling on them to swiftly tabulate the upcoming elections while building and maintaining confidence in voting. The governor emphasized the importance of preventing election lies from taking hold and urged officials to do all they can to tabulate votes quickly and accurately.
