The California Supreme Court on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, heard arguments over whether Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco must return approximately 650,000 ballots seized from a November 2025 special election on redistricting. The measure passed by roughly 80,000 votes.
The high court is reviewing Bianco’s seizure of 1,000 boxes of election materials in March, which he conducted to investigate a complaint from a local citizens group alleging irregularities in the count. Local election officials had previously dismissed the complaint as unfounded. Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a legal challenge shortly after the seizure, arguing that the sheriff lacked authority over election materials.
Justices question sheriff’s authority
During oral arguments, the seven justices appeared skeptical of Bianco’s claims that his actions were legally justified. According to reporting, the court questioned why the sheriff proceeded despite direct orders from Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber to stand down. The state officials had emphasized that election law explicitly prohibits moving ballots.
Armed deputies conduct recount
Bianco’s office dispatched armed deputies from the Special Investigations Bureau, Emergency Response Team, and SWAT unit to seize the ballots on Feb. 26, 2026, the day after the state officials’ orders. Deputies then initiated an ad hoc recount, a process they had not been trained for. Civil liberties groups and state officials have since criticized the recount as a violation of election protocols.
Legal challenges mount
Both Bonta and voters filed lawsuits challenging the seizure. The California Supreme Court is now weighing whether to order the ballots returned and to clarify the sheriff’s authority over election materials. The court’s decision could set a precedent for future election oversight in the state.
Background: The 2025 special election
The seized ballots were from a November 2025 special election to redraw California’s congressional districts. The measure passed by roughly 80,000 votes, though the citizens group alleged the count was off by an amount that, while not decisive, warranted investigation. Bianco, a Republican, was running for governor at the time of the seizure.
What’s next
The court has not yet issued a ruling. A decision is expected in the coming weeks, which could determine whether the ballots are returned to election officials or remain under sheriff’s custody pending further review.