Can someone explain to me why it takes so long to count ballots in California?

[usonian]

8. I always drop off the mail-in ballot at a secure place, but ...

not having used a voting machine in ages, I guess that machines and precincts have their protocols, and some must take time, in addition to the mail-in delays.

Do people still use voting machines?

As for Canada, I suspect that Canada has a stronger federal government, unlike the “states rights” sort of mess we have here. Roe, gerrymandering and attacks on voting rights.

We need the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

P.S. I don’t understand why everyone in CA doesn’t use the mailed ballot. It gives you plenty of time to think things through. I seem to recall that the last time I used a voting machine, I brought a cheat sheet with me ANYWAY, and that was basically a sample ballot.