On election night, campaigns, candidates and voters are eager for timely election results. However, counting ballots takes time to ensure every ballot is valid and properly counted. Several factors contribute to the duration of the ballot counting process:
- More than 2 million ballots were mailed to active San Diego County registered voters and many choose to return them to vote centers or official ballot drop boxes on Election Day.
- Ballots returned by mail can be counted if they are postmarked by Election Day, June 2, and received within seven days.
- Residents who are eligible but missed the registration deadline may conditionally register and vote with a provisional ballot through 8 p.m. on Election Day.
To follow the latest election night results, visit sdvote.com or follow the Registrar of Voters on X (formerly Twitter).
Election Night Results Reporting Schedule
The first set of unofficial election night results will be posted shortly after 8 p.m. This report will include mail ballots received before Election Day, as well as vote center ballots cast during early voting from May 23 through June 1.
Election Day Vote Center Ballots
Following the initial set of unofficial results, the remaining election night reports will only include ballots cast at vote centers on Election Day. No additional mail ballots will be included on election night.
After the vote centers close at 8 p.m., there will be a brief period before the next set of results are posted as poll workers secure and transport ballots to the Registrar’s office from over 200 vote centers across the county.
Once received, the vote center ballots will be scanned, and added to the results with periodic updates until all vote center ballots have been counted. The final unofficial election night results may take until midnight or later and will only include the addition of Election Day vote center ballots that are eligible for immediate counting.
Post-Election Night Ballot Processing
Ballot counting continues after election night. Outstanding categories include:
Mail Ballots
- Ballots dropped off at vote centers, official ballot drop boxes, or picked up from the U.S. Postal Service on Election Day.
- Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day, June 2, and received up to seven days after.
- All mail ballots go through the signature verification process of comparing the signature on the envelope to the signature on file before it can be counted.
Provisional Ballots
- Residents who were eligible but missed the registration deadline conditionally registered and voted a provisional ballot.
- The voter’s eligibility of each provisional ballot must be confirmed prior to being counted.
- The Registrar’s office cannot predict how many eligible unregistered residents will choose this option.
Post-Election Day Results Schedule
After election night, additional unofficial election results will be posted on the following schedule:
- Thursday, June 4, by 6 p.m.
- Friday, June 5, by 6 p.m.
- Monday, June 8, by 6 p.m.
Additional updates are at the Registrar’s discretion.
The Registrar’s office will be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
Certification of Election Results
By law, election results must be certified by July 2. All results remain unofficial until certification is complete. The Registrar of Voters expects to utilize the full certification period to ensure every legally cast ballot is counted efficiently and accurately.
Updates will be posted on sdvote.com and the final certified results will be available by July 2.
Learn more at sdvote.com, or call (858) 565-5800 or toll free at (800) 696-0136.
