government
Fact check: President Trump called LA's vote count into question. What you should know
By Brianna Lee at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· July 17, 2026
· 2 min read
Voters cast ballots at the Los Angeles County Registrar in Norwalk on June 1.(Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)The state is often knocked by the rest of the country as being "slow" to count votes. But here's the deal: that's a feature, not a bug, of the election system.The backstoryThings...
Key takeaway Brown / AFP via Getty Images)The state is often knocked by the rest of the country as being "slow" to count votes.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The pace of vote counting in Los Angeles County has been called into question, but the reality is that the state's efforts to expand voting opportunities are a key factor in the timeline. With nearly 90% of votes cast by mail, and the option for same-day voter registration, the process takes time to ensure accuracy and eligibility. The sheer size of California's voter base, with over 23 million registered voters, also contributes to the duration of the count. However, the adoption of the Voter's Choice Act in 30 counties, including Los Angeles, has led to significant improvements in efficiency. By allowing voters to cast ballots at any voting center, the number of provisional ballots has decreased, speeding up the counting process. As the county continues to refine its voting systems, it's likely that the pace of vote counting will continue to improve, making Los Angeles a model for other large jurisdictions.
About this story
Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: July 17, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Voters cast ballots at the Los Angeles County Registrar in Norwalk on June 1.(Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)The state is often knocked by the rest of the country as being "slow" to count votes. But here's the deal: that's a feature, not a bug, of the election system.The backstoryThings...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 17, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Brianna Lee at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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