California draws out its ballot count, making it a target for critics

Key Points:

• California's vote counting for the recent primary remains incomplete, delaying the determination of finalists for governor and Los Angeles mayor, a common occurrence due to the state's extensive mail-in voting system and verification processes.
• President Donald Trump accused California Democrats of rigging the election to exclude favored Republican candidates, prompting a denial from Governor Gavin Newsom's office and no confirmation of a DOJ investigation into the vote count.
• California law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received within seven days, with additional steps for signature verification, causing the slow tally but aiming to ensure accuracy over speed.
• The delay is exacerbated by many Democratic voters submitting ballots late, waiting to see frontrunners in a crowded governor's race, which increases the time needed to finalize results, especially for close congressional contests.
• The late-counted ballots tend to favor Democrats, fueling conspiracy theories among Republicans, though election experts emphasize the need for better funding to speed up counting rather than questioning the integrity of the process.