Elon Musk praises India’s swift vote counting, criticizes ongoing delays in California

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has highlighted India’s efficiency in vote counting during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where 640 million votes were counted in a single day. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk stated, “India counted 640 million votes in 1 day. California is still counting votes.” His remarks brought attention to the Indian electoral system, managed by the Election Commission of India, known for conducting the largest democratic elections globally.

India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections involved over 642 million voters across the country. The Election Commission employed advanced electronic voting machines (EVMs) and established thousands of counting centers nationwide to ensure the process was efficient and accurate. Extensive manpower, including polling officers and security personnel, was mobilized to manage operations across diverse and remote regions. The results were declared within 24 hours, marking a significant achievement in large-scale electoral management.

In comparison, California, the most populous state in the United States with nearly 39 million residents, has been grappling with prolonged delays in vote counting. Reports indicate that over 300,000 ballots from the November 5 elections remained uncounted as of November 23. The delays are attributed to mail-in ballots, decentralized counting centers, and legal provisions allowing up to 30 days for vote certification. These factors contribute to California’s extended timeline for announcing final results.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber addressed the delays, stating, “It takes time to ensure every ballot is counted, every ballot is accounted for, and every voter only voted once.” California’s mail-in voting system requires each ballot to go through signature verification and auditing to ensure accuracy, further extending the counting process. Legal safeguards also prioritize voter inclusivity and verification, adding to the timeline.

India’s approach to election management includes deploying EVMs, real-time monitoring of the counting process, and a highly coordinated logistical setup to handle millions of voters across urban and rural areas. These measures enable the Election Commission to ensure both accuracy and speed in vote counting. The scale and efficiency of India’s system stand in contrast to the logistical challenges faced in California, sparking discussions about electoral processes in both regions.

India counted 640 million votes in 1 day.

California is still counting votes ????‍♂️ https://t.co/ai8JmWxas6

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2024