[sheana]

You are correct, absentee votes NEVER get counted unless the votes are close, they are then used to determine the outcome. There are tons of absentee voters in California, my hubby is one of them.
I used to vote absentee until I realized my vote didn't count.

[BlackRazor]

You are correct, absentee votes NEVER get counted unless the votes are close, they are then used to determine the outcome.

The California Secretary of State website states:

"All valid absentee ballots are counted in every election in California, regardless of the outcome or closeness of any race."

http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm