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California’s Supreme Court has ordered Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco to return over 650,000 ballots he seized in February for an investigation into alleged voting improprieties from a special election last year. The court ruled that the seizure was unlawful and violated state law which mandates that voted ballots remain under the control of election officials. Governor Gavin Newsom welcomed the decision, emphasizing California’s commitment to protecting ballot integrity and democracy.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In February, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized approximately 650,000 ballots from a November 2025 special election on statewide congressional redistricting. This action was taken despite the lack of evidence for alleged voter fraud and after the measure had comfortably passed in Bianco's county by about 80,000 votes. On Thursday, California’s Supreme Court ruled that Bianco violated state law by seizing these ballots, ordering him to return them to Riverside County Registrar of Voters immediately. The court also instructed Bianco to refrain from further handling the ballots unless necessary to comply with their order. Attorney General Rob Bonta had previously directed Bianco to cease his investigation into alleged election fraud but was ignored. This ruling underscores the importance of maintaining ballot security and integrity under California law, even during criminal investigations.
Written for “California Ballot Seizure Ruling” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
A Republican California sheriff must return more than a half-million ballots he seized for an investigation into unfounded voting improprieties in a special election last year, the state supreme court ruled Thursday.
asserted
court → return → election
Riverside county sheriff Chad Bianco in February seized approximately 650,000 ballots from a November 2025 special election on statewide congressional redistricting favorable to Democrats and pushed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
asserted
Bianco → seize → Newsom
The measure easily passed statewide, and won in Bianco’s county by roughly 80,000 votes.
asserted
measure → pass → votes
The court called the ballots’ seizure “unlawful”, saying California law requires voted ballots to remain in the custody and control of election officials, even during a criminal investigation.
asserted
law → call → investigation
Bianco must also “refrain from further handling of the ballots except as necessary to comply with our order”, the court said in an unanimous decision.
asserted
court → refrain → decision
Bianco did not immediately comment on the ruling.
asserted
Bianco → comment → ruling
“Today’s ruling affirms that in California we will defend democracy – using every branch of government,” Newsom said in a statement.
asserted
Newsom → affirm → statement
“People deserve to know their ballot is counted and secure, and in California we will do everything we can to protect that constitutional right – this year, and beyond.”
asserted
we → deserve → right
Newsom on Saturday signed a bill that would prevent anyone from seizing ballots, as Bianco did.
asserted
Bianco → sign → ballots
“The new laws I signed just last week add new protections so attacks like this cannot happen again,” Newsom said on Thursday.
asserted
Newsom → sign → Thursday
Bianco’s ballot investigation came as Donald Trump has repeatedly disputed the results of the 2020 election, citing unsubstantiated instances of fraud.
asserted
Trump → come → fraud
His administration in January seized ballots and other documents from an election office in Georgia.
asserted
administration → seize → Georgia
Some Republicans have mirrored Trump’s rhetoric on voting in their states.
asserted
Republicans → mirror → states
Election officials and civil rights groups have been following the Bianco case carefully as they brace for the possibility that Trump or his allies may try to seize ballots in November.
uncertain
Trump → follow → November
Bianco said he confiscated the election materials as part of a criminal investigation after receiving a complaint from a local citizens group that the count was off.
asserted
count → say → group
Local election officials had previously said the complaint was unfounded.
asserted
complaint → say → ?
Bianco, was running for governor at the time, but he did not make it through the primary.
asserted
he → run → primary
Democratic attorney general Rob Bonta immediately launched a legal challenge, arguing Bianco had no authority over election materials and warning the seizure was designed to sow distrust in elections.
asserted
seizure → launch → elections
He ordered Bianco to return the ballots, but Bianco did not.
asserted
Bianco → order → ballots
The University of California, Los Angeles Voting Rights Project also sued the sheriff and the Riverside county registrar of voters on behalf of several Riverside county voters.
asserted
Project → sue → voters
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