The slow vote count has become a staple of California elections — and a national frustration — as the state has shifted to overwhelmingly voting by mail.
It’s the result of the additional time that California provides for mail ballots to arrive at local elections offices and the extra verification steps that workers complete before counting those votes. Because of the sheer size of the state, millions of ballots don’t get counted until weeks after election day.
But what if you want to make sure that yours is among the results rolling in on election night after the polls close? Perhaps you sleep more soundly knowing that you successfully exercised your right to vote, or maybe you want to help shape the early narratives of who’s up and who’s down.
Your best bet — easy, straightforward and cheap — is to mail back your ballot as soon as possible.