Court Orders Sheriff to Return Seized Ballots in Election Dispute
The California Supreme Court ruled that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco unlawfully seized approximately 650,000 ballots from a 2025 special election and must return them. The court said state law requires voted ballots to remain under the control of election officials even during criminal investigations. Bianco had confiscated the ballots as part of an investigation into unfounded voting improprieties.
The November 2025 special election concerned a statewide redistricting measure backed by the governor, which passed easily and carried the sheriff's county by a wide margin. The sheriff's February seizure followed a complaint from a citizens group that local officials had already dismissed as baseless.
The unanimous ruling noted that California's Elections Code already provides lawful avenues for investigating suspected misconduct without removing ballots from official custody. The sheriff, who was then a gubernatorial candidate, had refused an earlier order to return the materials, prompting both the attorney general and a voting rights group to sue.
This ruling may reinforce the legal boundary between election administration and law enforcement, potentially deterring similar seizures elsewhere. Voters could gain greater confidence that their ballots remain protected, while officials may face clearer guidance on investigating fraud claims. However, the case also highlights ongoing tensions around election integrity, and its effects may depend on how consistently such rulings are applied in other jurisdictions.