Statewide — California’s 2026-27 state budget includes $29 million to help counties speed up ballot counting through investments in staffing, technology and equipment, part of a broader election funding package aimed at improving election administration ahead of future statewide contests.
The funding comes after criticism over the pace of vote counting following California’s June 2 primary election. Election officials and voting advocates say the new investment will help counties modernize ballot processing while maintaining the state’s extensive vote-by-mail system.
The budget agreement between Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers allocates $29 million for county election offices to upgrade staffing, technology and equipment. It also includes $5 million for county voter outreach and education, $5 million for statewide voter education through the Secretary of State’s Office and $750,000 to combat election misinformation.
Election officials welcomed the funding but said California needs a stable, long-term funding source to maintain election operations.
“You can’t just do things as a one-time fix,” said Jesse Salinas, president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials. “They have to be done as a real ongoing commitment. That is critical for us to maintain the quality of our democracy.”
Voting advocates had sought additional funding before the budget agreement. The California Voter Foundation requested $35 million for voter education and another $55 million to support staffing, equipment and expanded ballot-processing capacity.
Foundation President Kim Alexander said California’s lengthy vote-counting process is driven by state policies designed to ensure ballots are counted accurately.
“California has one of the most accessible voting systems in the world, but our long count overshadows our strengths,” Alexander said in a statement. “When results take weeks, it creates space for confusion and misinformation.”
Under California law, election officials have time to verify signatures and allow voters to correct certain signature issues on mail ballots. Following the June 2 primary, counties could not certify results before June 26, and the Secretary of State’s Office is expected to certify the statewide election by July 10.
Supporters say the new funding will help counties process ballots more efficiently while preserving safeguards intended to ensure every eligible vote is counted.
The California Secretary of State’s Office will accept ballot arguments supporting or opposing statewide measures through 5 p.m. on Nov. 7, with rebuttals due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 16. Arguments are limited to 500 words and rebuttals to 250 words, with no more than three signers per submission. Materials may be delivered in person, faxed to (916) 653-3214, or emailed to VIGarguments@sos.ca.gov. Faxed and emailed submissions must be followed by the original documents within 72 hours.
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Bo Tefu contributed to this report.
