California voters approved redistricting measure amid election integrity crisis
Proposition 50 passed in November 2025 as California addressed ballot seizure crises through concurrent legal and legislative safeguards.
Event / Politics
California Ballot Seizure Ruling
California Supreme Court ruled that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco unlawfully seized approximately 650,000 ballots from a November 2025 special election on congressional redistricting. The court ordered immediate return of all ballots and affirmed the attorney general's supervisory authority over local sheriffs, rejecting arguments based on constitutional sheriff ideology.
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2026-09-25 to 2026-11-02 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 25 Sept, 00:06 UTC
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What happened
Sheriff Bianco attempted hand recount before suspending investigation
After seizing the ballots, Bianco directed his deputies to begin a hand recount under supervision of a court-appointed special master. He suspended the recount days later citing mounting legal challenges from the state attorney general and the UCLA Voting Rights Project, but continued refusing to return the ballots, claiming they were evidence.
Sheriff Bianco seized ballots citing unfounded fraud investigation
In February 2026, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized the ballots as part of an alleged criminal investigation into election fraud claims stemming from a complaint by a local citizens group alleging a vote count discrepancy. Election officials had previously determined the complaint was unfounded, with the actual discrepancy being approximately 100 votes, not the alleged 45,800.
Proposition 50 redistricting measure passed in November 2025 special election
A special election held in November 2025 approved Proposition 50, a congressional redistricting measure pushed by Governor Newsom that shifted five of California's Republican U.S. House seats to be more favorable to Democrats. The measure passed statewide and won in Riverside County by approximately 80,000 votes.
Bianco used artificial intelligence assistance that generated false legal citations
In his preliminary briefing, Sheriff Bianco challenged the plaintiffs' standing using legal arguments based on artificial intelligence-generated content that misquoted case law and made incorrect recitations. The California Supreme Court disapproved of the improper use of AI tools in legal filings and reminded counsel of professional duties of competence and candor to the court.
Sheriff Bianco must return 650,000 ballots to election officials
The California Supreme Court ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to immediately return all approximately 650,000 seized ballots to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters and refrain from further handling them except as necessary to comply with the court order.
California Supreme Court rules Riverside County Sheriff seized ballots unlawfully
The California Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco unlawfully seized approximately 650,000 ballots from a November 2025 special election on congressional redistricting. The court found that California law requires voted ballots to remain in the custody and control of election officials, even during a criminal investigation, and that Bianco lacked authority to seize them.
California Attorney General ordered Bianco to return ballots, which he ignored
California Attorney General Rob Bonta ordered Sheriff Bianco to return the ballots, warning the seizure was designed to sow distrust in elections. Bianco refused to comply, claiming in court that the attorney general lacked authority over him and that he was exercising only an advisory role. The court rejected this argument, affirming the attorney general's supervisory authority over local sheriffs.
UCLA Voting Rights Project sued to block ballot seizure
The University of California, Los Angeles Voting Rights Project sued Sheriff Bianco and the Riverside County Registrar of Voters on behalf of several Riverside County voters to halt his efforts to seize and recount the ballots. This lawsuit was one of two cases heard by the state Supreme Court in its decision.
Governor Newsom signed bill prohibiting ballot seizures
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills on the weekend before the Supreme Court ruling that would prevent anyone from seizing ballots, strengthening protections against election interference similar to Bianco's actions.
Bianco was Republican gubernatorial candidate during ballot seizure
During the time he seized the ballots in February 2026, Sheriff Chad Bianco was running as a Republican candidate for California governor in the June primary. He failed to advance through the primary and later announced plans to seek reelection as sheriff in 2028.
Trump administration seized ballots from Georgia election office
The Trump administration seized ballots and other documents from an election office in Georgia in January 2026, part of the broader context of the Trump administration's disputes over 2020 election results and ongoing election fraud allegations.
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2 alternative perspectives
Federal authorities seize ballots in Georgia election office investigation
Trump administration seizure of Georgia ballots extends pattern of federal-level election material confiscation.
Legal groups and lawmakers move to prevent future ballot seizures
Legal groups sued and lawmakers passed bills to prevent future ballot seizures.
Court orders sheriff to return 650,000 seized ballots immediately
California court orders sheriff to return 650,000 unlawfully seized ballots.