Democrats may cast last-minute ballots for governor. What it will mean for the count

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

As plenty of Californians remain undecided about the gubernatorial primary’s unsettled Democratic field, some are waiting to cast their ballots, creating the potential for a slower vote count or a longer wait to find out the winners.Though the landscape could change quickly if Democrats coalesce around a single candidate within the next several days — signs of which were emerging this week — for now, many Democratic-leaning voters appear to be waiting for new developments before making their final decisions, political analysts say.“This has been a roller coaster of a race, and I think voters are waiting to see when the ride is going to end and cast a vote at that time,” said Steve Maviglio, a Democratic strategist.A larger-than-usual number of people casting mail ballots on or close to election day could extend the ballot-counting process, said Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation.County election officials said they were prepared for that possibility.

Early returns so far haven’t made it clear whether most voters will wait longer than usual to cast ballots.California The wide-open race to succeed Gavin Newsom as California governor has attracted a large and diverse field of candidates.Mike Sanchez, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County registrar, said the county was “fully prepared” for the possibility of receiving “a significant number” of ballots returned close to or on election day, June 2.

“It is not uncommon in primary elections, particularly those with a large number of contests and candidates, for some voters to take additional time to review their ballots and hold onto them longer before returning them,” he said.Californians who want to vote on or close to election day can vote in person or use a mail-ballot return option that doesn’t rely on the U.S.Postal Service to help speed the process and avoid the r...