Analysis: California Ranks Last in Ballot Counting Speed, Trails International and Domestic Peers
A data analysis by Silver Bulletin's Eli McKown-Dawson finds California counted only 70% of its ballots three days after the 2024 election, compared to a national average of over 95%, placing it last among all 50 states. Other states with high mail-vote rates, such as Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, count ballots faster, and countries like Colombia, Japan, and the UK report near-complete results overnight. The findings raise questions about California's election administration efficiency and public confidence in its electoral system.
According to an analysis published by Silver Bulletin and introduced by Nate Silver, California took until November 8, 2024 — three days after Election Day — to count just 70% of its ballots, while the national average across all 50 states exceeded 95% by that same date. California did not reach the 95% threshold until roughly 10 days after the election. By comparison, Florida counted 99% of its ballots within hours of polls closing, partly by allowing pre-processing of mail ballots before Election Day. International examples also highlight the contrast: Colombia, Japan, and the United Kingdom all report near-complete results within hours or the morning after their elections. The analysis notes that California's slowness cannot be attributed solely to its heavy reliance on mail voting, as Oregon, Washington, and Colorado — also mail-heavy states — all count faster. California also extends its mail ballot receipt deadline to one week after Election Day, a policy the analysis argues accommodates a very small share of voters at significant cost to speed. On the Elections Performance Index, California ranked 41st in 2024, suggesting the state is neither faster nor more accurate than its peers.
What's missing
The analysis does not fully explore the structural and legal reasons behind California's extended deadlines, such as state laws designed to maximize voter participation and accommodate postmarked-but-late-arriving ballots. Additionally, the Elections Performance Index ranking cited covers multiple dimensions of election administration beyond counting speed, and California's specific strengths or weaknesses within that index are not detailed.
How coverage differed
The sole source is Reason, a libertarian-leaning outlet, which frames California's slow ballot counting as evidence of government dysfunction and a 'failed state' narrative. The underlying data analysis originates from Silver Bulletin, a nonpartisan data journalism outlet, lending some empirical credibility, but the editorial framing and selection of this story reflect a right-leaning perspective critical of California governance.
What different sources said
- ReasonRight
"Why Can't California Count?"
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