Four days after California's primary election, officials have tallied only about two-thirds of votes, leaving races for governor and Los Angeles mayor unresolved. The state's reliance on mail balloting requires signature verification and envelope processing, but the count remains slower than other states with similar voting systems.

California's fragmented election system creates significant disparities between counties. Larger jurisdictions like Los Angeles and Orange have invested in equipment and staffing, allowing them to count over 90% of ballots within a week. Smaller counties lack resources, with some taking three to four weeks to complete counting.

The slow count has made California vulnerable to unfounded Republican accusations of fraud. President Trump claimed the delays prove election rigging, while the DOJ sent an attorney to observe ballot processing. Election officials maintain that accuracy comes before speed, despite warnings that the situation could worsen in November.