California vote count delays spark calls for faster ballot processing

Three days after Election Day, California's gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral races remain uncalled. Experts attribute the unusually slow tally to the state's reliance on mail-in ballots, which require individual signature verification and a statutory 30‑day review period.

Republican candidate Steve Hilton, leading the gubernatorial race by 1.2 points with only 60% of votes counted, urged reforms, noting that other states process mail ballots within days. Analysts suggest adopting Florida's deadline for ballots to be received in‑hand on Election Day, tightening post‑mark windows, or increasing election‑worker staffing to accelerate counting.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation last year intended to speed the process, but observers say the existing system intentionally extends result finalization. Proposed changes aim to restore voter confidence by shortening verification timelines and reducing ballot‑arrival windows.