California Supreme Court Hears Arguments over Sheriff's Seizure of Ballots
The justices are weighing whether a sheriff can keep ballots seized under search warrants as voting-rights groups call the move unlawful.
- The California Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday regarding Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of approximately 650,000 ballots from the November 2025 redistricting election.
- Bianco seized about 1,000 boxes of materials in March to investigate alleged discrepancies, though Riverside County Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco maintained the claims were unfounded misunderstandings.
- Plaintiffs including the UCLA Voting Rights Project and Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta argue the seizure was a political stunt, while Bianco's counsel maintains the ballots are evidence held under court-issued warrants.
- Despite orders from Rob Bonta to return the materials, Bianco continues to hold the ballots, claiming they are evidence protected by the state's Penal Code.
- David McCuan, a political science professor at Sonoma State, described the case as part of a broader battle over voting rights access that reaches the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election.
29 Articles
29 Articles
California Supreme Court hears arguments over sheriff's seizure of ballots
The California Supreme Court is considering whether Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco must return seized election ballots.
California Supreme Court takes up sheriff's ballot seizure case
Oral arguments are set to begin Monday morning in the California Supreme Court in San Francisco regarding the controversial seizure of ballots in Riverside County following the November 2025 election.
Was sheriff’s seizure of 650,000 ballots legal? California Supreme Court weighs case
The legality of a Southern California sheriff’s seizure of about 650,000 ballots cast in last year’s redistricting election will be considered by the state Supreme Court on Monday, as oral arguments begin in two cases involving Riverside County Sheriff Chad…
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