California Secretary of State Shirley Weber is resisting proposals to expedite the state's slow vote counting process, following prolonged ballot counts after the recent election. Critics have raised concerns over electoral delays, but Weber argues that new federal and state proposals, mandating counts be completed within 72 hours and 10 days, contradict established laws. California's requirement for mail-in ballots necessitates time-consuming processing, especially in counties with limited staffing, illustrating the complexity of balancing timely results with thorough voting practices.
Weber said they're "arbitrary decisions" that conflict with other election mandates lawmakers have set. "The Legislature itself places on us a tremendous responsibility..."
Mail-in ballots take longer to process than voting machines and require labor-intensive signature checks. Many counties have small elections staff and take weeks to work through those ballots.
The federal proposal was introduced by Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Big Bear Lake, and would require states to count 90% of their ballots within 72 hours of polls closing.
Weber criticized Republican members of Congress for introducing the measure after the most recent elections, which saw two Democrats wrest control of congressional swing districts.
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