Tesla CEO Elon Musk applauded the Indian electoral system after vote- counting for the two state Assembly elections and by-elections in the country was concluded in a single day. Highlighting how the country counted 640 million votes in a single day, the billionaire entrepreneur expressed dissatisfaction with the prolonged vote-counting process in California following the 2024 US presidential election. Sharing his thoughts on X, the social media platform he owns, Musk wrote, “India counted 640 million votes in 1 day. California is still counting votes,” accompanied by a facepalm emoji to underscore his frustration. His remarks came as California, which has over 22 million registered voters, has yet to announce its final results more than two weeks after the election.
Complex California
Musk’s comments were made in response to a meme posted by an X user, in which he described the delay as “tragic.” His criticism of California’s slow vote-counting process comes amid Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential race.
Trump, securing 295 electoral votes, defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, who garnered 226 votes, earning him a second term in the White House. The President-elect has already begun assembling his foreign policy and national security teams ahead of his January 2025 inauguration.
California, known for its complex voting system and large voter base, adheres to meticulous legal protocols that contribute to the delays.
According to the California Secretary of State’s website, the election night results are semi-official and primarily consist of in-person ballots cast on Election Day, early voting ballots, and vote-by-mail ballots received and processed before Election Day. However, the full vote-counting process extends into a legally mandated 30-day canvass period.
The canvass period
During this canvass period, county election officials are required to count every valid ballot, including provisional ballots, ballots cast by voters registering on the same day, and vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days.
Officials also perform a public one per cent manual tally to verify the accuracy of automated counting systems. Furthermore, they cross-check voter signatures to ensure ballot validity. If discrepancies arise, voters are contacted and given an opportunity to verify their signatures up to two days before certification.
