Overview
- California’s June primary took up to a week to finish counting mail ballots, delaying the state’s gubernatorial nomination and several U.S. House results.
- A Rasmussen poll conducted June 8–10 found 51% of likely voters say ballot counts should finish within 24 hours of polls closing.
- At least 17 jurisdictions now accept ballots that arrive after Election Day if postmarked on time, with California allowing seven days, New Jersey six days, and some states permitting up to 14 days.
- The Republican National Committee is pressing the Supreme Court in RNC v. Watson to prohibit post‑Election Day receipt windows, and justices are expected to rule this month.
- Late ballots have flipped close races in recent cycles, fueling calls for either a court ruling or federal law to balance faster results with ballot access and accurate counts.