Gov. Gavin Newsom has demanded California counties speed up vote counting in the upcoming June primary election after embarrassing months-long delays in prior elections raised questions about the efficiency of state elections.
The governor told county election officials to halt “mis- and disinformation” about elections by counting votes “quickly and accurately.”
“Time is of the essence in preventing election lies from taking hold,” Newsom wrote in aMay 4 letterto election clerks from all 58 California counties.
“Results are subject to alarming levels of mis- and disinformation that aim to erode voter confidence,” Newsom said, adding that election threats “are only escalating.”
California ballots havebegun landing in mailboxesahead of the June 2 primary race that will determine general election candidates for Congress, governor and other key races.
The state’s notoriously slow ballot counts — final results have taken weeks or even months in prior elections — have fueled frustrations and ridicule over the past several years.
Final results in the 2024 congressional elections weredelayed by a weekdue to plodding vote counts in six California races — as control of the House of Representatives hung in the balance.
It tooktwo months for election officialsto finish tallying ballots in a 2024 congressional primary between Rep. Sam Liccardo, former state Assembly member Evan Low and former Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian in Silicon Valley, thanks partly to a recount request that dragged out for weeks.
NEW: With Trump escalating attacks on free and fair elections,@CAGovernorGavin Newsom just sent a letter to election officials in all 58 counties — thanking them and urging rapid, accurate counting to protect confidence in the results.pic.twitter.com/97FjAdmy2F
In 2022, it tooknearly a monthfor former Republican Rep. John Duarte to be declared the winner in another district in Central California.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
