More than 3 million ballots still to be counted in California

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For those California candidates whose contests were too close to call on election day, patience is being recommended.

While more than nine million ballots were counted Tuesday, but state election officials say there are more than three million others that are uncounted and still need to be tabulated throughout California.

The uncounted are mostly vote-by-mail ballots submitted on election day and provisional ballots that include those turned in by people whose names were not on the lists at polling places, but who believe they are registered to vote.

The Secretary of State’s Office reported 3.08 million uncounted ballots late Thursday, including 2.1 million vote-by-mail ballots. That list does not include uncounted ballots from 12 of the 58 counties, including San Bernardino and Santa Barbara counties.

At this time four years ago, during the last presidential election, there were 2.4 million uncounted ballots. Counties have until Dec. 4 to count the remaining ballots.

‘The popularity of voting by mail and the awareness of provisional ballot rights have both skyrocketed in recent years,’’ Secretary of State Debra Bowen said. ``While some people may want election returns immediately, most understand it’s more important to get accurate results rather than fast results.’’

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-- Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento