The California Supreme Court said Sheriff Chad Bianco unlawfully seized ballots and must return them.
Why it matters: The ruling sets a clearer boundary for county sheriffs in election-related probes and affirms that voted ballots stay under election officials' control. In a separate unanimous decision, the court also said Attorney General Rob Bonta can direct local law enforcement to pause actions that threaten uniform election law enforcement.
- The court ruled Sept. 24, 2026, that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco unlawfully seized roughly 650,000 ballots.
- The ballots came from the county registrar after the Nov. 4, 2025 special election tied to California congressional redistricting.
- Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero said state election law requires voted ballots to remain with election officials.
- In a separate unanimous ruling, the court said Attorney General Rob Bonta had authority to order Bianco to pause the investigation and preserve the seized materials.
The California Supreme Court said Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco acted unlawfully when he took roughly 650,000 ballots from the county registrar after the Nov. 4, 2025 special election. The court ordered the ballots returned, saying voted ballots must stay in the custody of election officials. The court's opinion said the seizure created a substantial risk to election integrity.
The case stemmed from Bianco's March 2026 seizure of ballots and election materials during an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the special election over California congressional redistricting. The court said California's Elections Code already provides procedures for recounting and examining ballots, including in law enforcement-related contexts, without exposing them to alteration or tampering. CalMatters reported that the ruling was unanimous.
In a separate unanimous decision, the court said Attorney General Rob Bonta had authority to issue binding directions to Bianco to pause the probe and preserve the seized election materials. The second opinion addressed the state's power to intervene when local law enforcement actions threaten statewide election administration.
The rulings together clarify two points for election officials and sheriffs: voted ballots remain under election custody, and the attorney general can step in to enforce state election law when a local investigation crosses that line.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the decision confirmed the seizure was unlawful. His statement said California would continue to defend ballot security.
By the numbers
- 650,000 - ballots the court said Bianco unlawfully seized
- Nov. 4, 2025 - date of the special election tied to California congressional redistricting
- Sept. 24, 2026 - date of the California Supreme Court rulings
Yes, but: The court's opinions settle custody and enforcement authority, but they do not on their face resolve the underlying allegations Bianco was investigating.