Washington Examiner columnist Guy Benson sharply criticized California’s election system following the state’s primary elections, calling the process “embarrassing” and “third-world nonsense.”
California’s voters’ high use of mail-in voting contributes to a lengthier vote-counting process, as election officials must carefully verify ballots before certifying final results, a process that can drag on for days after Election Day.
Pointing to Florida as a model, Benson argued that California’s prolonged vote counting undermines public confidence and contrasts poorly with states that report results quickly and efficiently.
“If a state like Florida can vote all the ways that it does and have tens of millions of people in that state, and they can deliver timely, reliable results on election night, that is possible anywhere else in this country,” Benson said on My View With Lara Trump on Sunday.
“It is a choice to reject that model and stick with California; I guess, is fine with,” Benson said.
Concerns over California’s vote-counting process have persisted throughout the election cycle, with candidates competing in the state’s primary races raising questions about the pace of ballot tabulation.
Spencer Pratt, the Republican Los Angeles mayoral candidate, voiced concerns after his lead over incumbent Nithya Raman narrowed dramatically. Pratt argued that California’s lengthy ballot-counting process creates uncertainty. In California’s top-two primary system, only the two candidates with the highest vote totals advance to the general election.
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In California’s primary election, held June 2, thousands of ballots remain unprocessed according to the state’s ballot-tracking website.
“It’s like they’re trying to undermine faith in the process,” Benson said.
