Raman draws closer to Pratt in race to face off against Bass in L.A. mayoral election

A TV Star Leads a City Leader for a Shot at Mayor, and the Vote Count Is a Mess

Spencer Pratt leads Nithya Raman by over three percent of the vote to face Karen Bass, while federal agents demand a probe into slow counts.

When you cast a vote, you expect to know who won. In Los Angeles, voters are waiting in the dark while a TV star and a city leader fight for their future.

What Happened

Current Mayor Karen Bass has already won her spot in the November final election. She has nearly 35 percent of the vote.

Now, TV star Spencer Pratt and city leader Nithya Raman are in a tight race for the second spot. Pratt has 28.24 percent of the vote, but Raman is catching up as more votes are tallied.

Only 71 percent of the votes are in. Federal officials are calling for probes because the count is so slow. State officials say they still have over 3 million ballots to count.

What the evidence shows

• Karen Bass has nearly 35 percent of the vote.
• Spencer Pratt has 28.24 percent of the vote.
• Nithya Raman has 24.89 percent of the vote.
• Only 71 percent of the votes have been counted.
• Over 3 million votes are still uncounted across the state.

The Bigger Question

Why does it take so long to count paper votes in the age of fast computers?

When people must wait weeks to see who won, they lose trust in the system. We need to ask if our slow voting system is hurting our faith in choices we make at the ballot box.

The Other Side

State election workers say they must go slow to prevent fraud. They check every signature on mail ballots to make sure the votes are real.

This check is highly useful to keep things fair, but a backlog of 3 million votes shows the current system is too slow for a modern state.

What Happens Now

Los Angeles voters must wait to see who will run for mayor in the fall. Until the state counts every last card, the candidates cannot plan their next steps, and the public is left waiting.

What We Still Don't Know

1. When will the final votes be counted and the winner named?
2. Will federal agents start a real probe into the slow vote count?
3. How many of the 3 million uncounted votes are from Los Angeles?