California has enacted many changes over the years that were intended to boost voter turnout. But there hasn't been significant improvement in participation and those changes are largely responsible for the state's tediously slow ballot counting today. Preliminary figures show turnout hit 40.8% in the June primary, with counties required to complete their vote counting on Thursday. That would be an increase over recent primary elections but below participation levels in others stretching back to 2000. Meantime, California's drawn-out tabulating has put the state in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump and made California a target of those who promote unfounded election conspiracy theories.

Despite making up one-fifth of the state’s voting population, most Gen Z Californians won’t vote in the June 2 primary, which is stacked with …

The crowded race for California governor still has no clear front-runner with only days left for voters to decide which two candidates to advance to the general election in November. Fewer Democrats are voting early so far this year than usual. Some Democratic voters say they aren't impressed with the field, while others say they're fearful of two Republican candidates advancing and locking out Democrats. That's possible because the state's primary system allows the top two vote-getters to advance regardless of party. But it became less likely after one of the major Democrats dropped out and President Donald Trump endorsed one of the leading Republicans.

California Republicans have an unusual shot of claiming an upset victory in the governor’s race this year — but to win, neither of their candi…