Nearly 150,000 mail ballots rejected in California’s primary despite efforts to count every vote

Summary by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Michael R. Blood | The Associated Press, LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · July 24, 2026 · 5 min read

Ballots are sorted the day after California’s primary election at the LA County Ballot Processing Center, June 3, 2026, in City of Industry, Calif. (Jae C. Hong, File / AP Photo ) LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nearly 150,000 California voters had their mail-in ballots rejected for the state’s June primary, ...

Why this matters in The Los Angeles

The spike in rejected mail-in ballots in California's primary election has significant implications for Los Angeles County, where a substantial portion of the state's voters reside. With nearly 150,000 ballots rejected statewide, it is likely that a considerable number of those came from local voters. The fact that late-arriving ballots were the primary driver of rejections suggests that voters in Los Angeles may need to be more mindful of mailing deadlines to ensure their votes are counted. Furthermore, the potential impact of US Postal Service changes on postmark timing could disproportionately affect urban areas like Los Angeles, where mail volume is higher. As the state continues to grapple with slow vote counts and ballot rejection rates, Los Angeles election officials will need to work closely with voters and postal authorities to streamline the process and minimize rejections in future elections.

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 24, 2026 · Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · Reading time: 5 min

Frequently asked about this story

What is this story about?

When was this published?

This article was first published on July 24, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.

Who reported this story?

This story was reported by Michael R. Blood | The Associated Press 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.

Summary created by	The Los Angeles Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Michael R. Blood \| The Associated Press, LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 24, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 24, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Nearly 150,000 mail ballots rejected in California’s primary despite efforts to count every vote

More stories

Carjacking victim says he called 911 while trapped in car with suspect, who asked him for directions in Houston, Texas

Airbnb squatter? Hermosa Beach, California homeowner says guest refused to leave after reservation ended

Autopsy doctor testifies about teen girl's fatal injuries at hearing to decide if D4vd faces trial

Sixth Street Bridge reopened after hourslong police activity, LAPD says

Tony Romo arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence

Extended 14-hour road closure in effect in Agoura Hills for wildlife crossing construction

Fake OC animal charity founder charged after dozens of dogs rescued from hot cars

Nearly 150,000 mail ballots rejected in California’s primary despite efforts to count every vote

Does Shadow know Jackie is alive?

Book lovers invited to participate in LA's first Indie Book Crawl

California man drank all day then drove into a tree at 101 mph with a car full of people

Measles cases hit U.S. record not seen since 1991

Get the briefing.