Nearly 90,000 Ballots Left to Count in California With Deadline Fast Approaching

Elections officials in California are focused on counting nearly 90,000 ballots and resolving issues with close to 100,000 others by Dec. 3, the deadline for counties to report presidential election results to Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office.

Delays in California’s vote counting process are due to the reliance on mail-in ballots, which take longer to verify compared to in-person votes, according to elections officials. Every registered voter in California received a ballot that could be returned by mail, official drop boxes, or polling places.

Officials verify mail-in ballots by comparing signatures on the ballots with those on voter registration files.

If voters fail to sign ballots or if discrepancies are detected, registrars reach out to voters via mail, email, and phone to resolve the issue and “cure” the votes.

“All of this takes staff time and extends final certification,” said Jesse Salinas, Yolo County assessor, clerk-recorder, and registrar of voters, in a statement on Nov. 22.

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Vote canvassing procedures are time-consuming but crucial to ensure all votes are accurately counted, as per multiple county registrars.

“The elections office is dedicated to completing our final certified results accurately and promptly, while meeting all legal requirements and ensuring the integrity and transparency of the election process,” Salinas emphasized.

One county is close to finishing its task, with officials working diligently to finalize the process.

“We cannot certify our election until all mismatched or unsigned ballots are cured,” said Katrina Bartolomie, Mendocino County registrar, to The Epoch Times. “We are fully focused on the election.”

The county has processed and cured all but 99 ballots out of nearly 40,000 cast as of Nov. 29.

All statewide results must be submitted to the secretary of state by Dec. 6, with Weber officially certifying the results a week later.

As the certification deadline approaches, candidates in certain races are separated by margins of less than 1,000 votes.

Incumbent Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) is trailing Democratic challenger Adam Gray by around 190 votes, with the lead changing since Election Day.

Volunteers from both parties are assisting elections officials in resolving ballot signature issues to support their respective candidates.

Christine Pelosi, daughter of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), is leading a volunteer effort for Democrats to contact affected voters in California’s agricultural 13th House District.

She expressed her focus on the tightest House race in the country to her supporters.

“I’m off to the Central Valley to cure ballots in California 13,” Pelosi mentioned in a video linked to her post.

Volunteers previously assisted in the state’s 45th House District, where Democrat Derek Tran surpassed Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) as votes counted later favored him.

Republicans are also actively involved in curing votes.

“We are fully committed to protecting the vote and ensuring every legal vote is counted,” stated Jessica Millan Patterson, California GOP chairwoman, in a video shared on social media on Nov. 22.

Thousands of volunteers and attorneys are working in contested districts to help cure votes and communicate with voters whose ballots are in question, she noted.

“We understand that these cures can be the determining factor between victory and defeat,” Patterson emphasized.