# L.A. County Accelerates Vote Counting Amid Federal Pressure New equipment and state funding helped California officials counter election misinformation through faster processing. - **Source:** [Los Angeles Times – California](https://www.latimes.com/california) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/9920c64a-aed8-406f-835b-13d1a680c210 ## Strategic Response to Pressure Following unfounded claims of election fraud by the Trump administration, California officials implemented measures to expedite ballot counting. The state allocated 29 million dollars for equipment and staffing, with 6 million dollars specifically directed to Los Angeles County. These efforts aimed to dispel misinformation and ensure public confidence in the midterm election results. ## Infrastructure and Operational Upgrades Los Angeles County utilized state funding to purchase a third mail ballot processing machine and transitioned to around-the-clock operations. The county also leveraged its new 144,000-square-foot processing facility, opened in 2024. This centralized space allowed officials to process mail-in and in-person ballots simultaneously, a significant improvement over previous fragmented, multi-location operations. ## Efficiency Gains in Counting One week after polls closed, L.A. County had processed 99 percent of nearly 3.2 million ballots cast. This performance significantly outpaced previous election cycles, where 96.9 percent were processed in 2024 and 73.3 percent in 2022. Officials noted that higher turnout and a complex state ballot made these efficiency gains particularly remarkable. ## Comparative Performance Metrics L.A. County outperformed other major jurisdictions, including San Diego and Orange counties, in processing speed. While smaller counties like Humboldt struggled with backlogs, L.A. County maintained a lead over the state average of 92.8 percent processed after the June primary. These metrics highlight the impact of targeted investments in election infrastructure. ## Legal Battles and Oversight The Trump administration attempted to impose stricter federal oversight, including demands for new voter ID requirements and proof of citizenship. Federal courts, including the Supreme Court, rejected these efforts. The Justice Department had threatened criminal prosecution over 20,000 flagged ballots, but judicial intervention prevented the segregation of these votes, avoiding potential administrative chaos. ## Mitigating Election Disinformation Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged that prolonged counting periods provide fertile ground for the spread of misinformation. Consequently, state lawmakers passed legislation in 2025 to prioritize rapid tabulation. Officials emphasized that speed is essential to preventing election lies from taking hold, especially given the intense scrutiny and pressure from federal authorities during this cycle. ## Structural Challenges to Speed California faces unique challenges that naturally slow counting compared to other states. These include a high volume of ballots, diverse voting options, and a grace period for postmarked ballots received after election day. Additionally, the state allows voters to cure signature discrepancies, which requires extra time for verification and processing after the polls close. ## Future Sustainability of Operations Registrar Dean Logan warned that the current success is not guaranteed for future elections. He emphasized that continued state and county investment is critical to maintaining these standards. As the administration is expected to target California again in 2028, officials view robust funding as a necessary defense against ongoing political and legal challenges. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-11-11/targeted-by-trump-la-county-took-action-to-speed-up-counting-votes-officials-say-it-worked — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._