A week after Election Day, Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton address ballot-counting concerns

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton held separate events in Los Angeles on June 9, one week after the state’s primary election, amid ongoing criticism over delayed vote counting. Becerra appeared at a bustling Los Angeles food hall, thanking voters in English and Spanish for their support. He acknowledged the lengthy ballot-counting process but emphasized its importance, stating that counting every vote accurately was critical. As of noon on June 9, over 8 million ballots had been counted statewide, with more than 1.4 million still unprocessed out of 27 million registered voters. Becerra urged voters to cast ballots early to reduce future delays. Meanwhile, Hilton spoke outside the L.A. County registrar’s office in Norwalk, where he expressed confidence in his race but avoided declaring victory without an Associated Press call. He proposed voter ID reform as a solution to California’s slow vote-counting process, arguing that requiring IDs would eliminate the need for signature verification. Currently, California mails ballots without mandatory ID requirements, relying instead on signature matching to prevent fraud. Hilton, flanked by lieutenant governor candidate Gloria Romero and supporters, framed voter ID as a secure and efficient alternative. He noted that signature checks contribute to delays, while voter ID would streamline the process. The voter ID measure has already qualified for the November ballot. Becerra, when questioned about voter ID, did not directly address the proposal but reiterated the importance of accurate vote counting. He acknowledged the inconvenience of delays but stressed that ensuring every vote is counted fairly outweighs the need for speed.