California’s 2024 primary election results were delayed for weeks in several U.S. House races due to the state’s mail-in ballot rules and high volume of absentee votes. State law allows mail-in ballots to be received up to a week after Election Day, contributing to the extended counting period.
On primary night, California polls closed at 11 p.m. ET. By 12:30 a.m. ET the following day, approximately half of the state’s total votes had been reported. Vote tabulation continued slowly, with the state reaching 95% of reported votes by November 18—two weeks after Election Day.
The delays affected outcomes in multiple congressional districts. The House races in California’s 22nd and 27th districts remained undecided until a week after the election. In the 13th District, officials did not call the race for more than a month following Election Day.
California’s election timeline is shaped by its heavy reliance on mail-in voting and slower ballot processing in its most populous counties. These factors routinely extend the time required to finalize results, especially in close contests. The state uses an all-party primary system, in which the top two vote-getters—regardless of party affiliation—advance to the general election. Kamala Harris won California in the 2024 presidential race over Donald Trump, though that result was consistent with pre-election expectations and did not factor into the delays affecting down-ballot races.
The extended ballot processing window and large number of mail-in ballots meant that election officials in Los Angeles, San Diego, and other major counties required additional time to verify signatures and count votes. State law also permits voters to fix errors on their mail-in ballots through a process called ballot curing, which further lengthened the tabulation period.