Polls Are Closed – Now What?

With the polls now closed, Los Angeles County begins carefully counting votes. The county has nearly 6 million eligible voters and follows a thorough process that focuses on accuracy.

You can track election results here for LA County races and here for statewide races.

Here's a look at what happens after polls close and why results take time to finalize.

Why Counting Takes Time in LA County

1. Millions of Voters: As the most populous county in the U.S., LA County processes ballots from millions of registered voters. Handling such high volumes with precision takes time.
2. Popular Vote-by-Mail: Vote-by-mail is widely used in LA County, and every mail-in ballot goes through a signature verification process. Since ballots postmarked by Election Day can arrive up to seven days later, some aren't available to count immediately.
3. Same-Day Registration: California allows eligible residents to register and vote on Election Day, producing provisional ballots that need extra verification. This step ensures each voter casts only one ballot, adding time to the process.
4. Detailed Ballot Checks: Election workers thoroughly check each ballot—whether mail-in, in-person, or provisional. They verify mail-in signatures and review ballots for issues like "overvotes" (too many choices) or "undervotes" (left blank). Any damaged ballots also receive special attention.
5. Audit and Security Steps: LA County conducts a 1% manual audit after Election Day, double-checking that machine counts align with physical ballots. This audit promotes transparency and helps ensure accuracy.

What Happens After Polls Close in LA County?

1. Early Results Reporting: Right after polls close, the county releases initial results from mail-in ballots received before Election Day. These early returns offer the first look but only tell part of the story. It's important to note that because of voter demographic trends, certain voters vote early. In contrast, others vote later, often causing a flip in which candidate or measure leads from election night to final ballot count.
2. Counting Election Day Ballots: Next, election workers start counting in-person ballots cast on Election Day. They transport these ballots from vote centers to central facilities, verifying and processing them.
3. Processing Late-Arriving and Provisional Ballots: In the days after the election, the county continues to receive and count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day. Officials also verify and count provisional ballots from same-day registrants, ensuring every eligible vote is included.
4. Certifying Final Results: LA County has up to 30 days after Election Day to complete and certify the count. During this period, officials perform audits, resolve outstanding issues, and finalize the results. They then send certified results to the California Secretary of State for approval.

Precision Over Speed

In LA County, accuracy comes first. While it may take time, this careful process ensures every eligible vote counts. Election integrity is worth the wait.

Follow BOMA on the Frontline for election results.