CA Secretary of State - General Election - Absentee Ballot Information

Every absentee ballot cast by an eligible voter is counted and is included in the final, certified election results issued by their county elections official. All absentee ballots must be received by the elections official by the time the polls close (8:00 p.m.) on Election Day. Voted absentee ballots received by the elections official prior to Election Day are verified for correct voter signature and information and are then held for counting on Election Night. These results are announced on Election Night along with ballots cast at the precincts. Voted absentee ballots that are received in the mail on Election Day as well as voted absentee ballots that are returned to any polling place on Election Day, as is permitted under California law, cannot be counted until the signature of the voter and other information is verified to ensure the voter is eligible to cast a ballot. Election officials have 28 days after Election Day to complete the "canvass" or reconciliation of the vote, including checking and processing these absentee ballots, and report their results to the Secretary of State to be certified.

Simply put, California elections officials count all legally cast absentee ballots!

Update on Absentee and Provisional Ballots Remaining to be Processed/Counted (pdf ~42kb)