Key facts
- California Supreme Court ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to return approximately 650,000 seized ballots.
- The court ruled the seizure unlawful, stating that voted ballots must remain in the custody of election officials.
- Sheriff Bianco seized the ballots in November 2025 as part of an investigation into alleged voting improprieties.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation criminalizing the seizure of election materials before results are certified.
The California Supreme Court has ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to return approximately 650,000 ballots he seized last year, ruling the seizure unlawful. The court stated that California law requires voted ballots to remain in the custody and control of election officials, even during a criminal investigation. Bianco had seized the ballots in November 2025 for an investigation into alleged voting improprieties, defying warnings from California Attorney General Rob Bonta.