California Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Sheriff’s Ballot Seizure
The California Supreme Court is hearing arguments regarding whether a sheriff in Southern California, Chad Bianco, unlawfully seized approximately 650,000 ballots from a November 2025 special election. The state's Attorney General and a voting rights group sued Bianco, arguing he…
Fort Myers Naples, FL, August 24, 2026 —
The California Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments in a case concerning Sheriff Chad Bianco of Riverside County, who is accused of unlawfully seizing approximately 650,000 ballots from a November 2025 special election. The legal challenge was initiated by the California Attorney General’s office and a voting rights organization.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue that Sheriff Bianco overstepped his authority by taking possession of election materials. They contend that such actions are outside the purview of a county sheriff and suggest that the seizure was an effort to undermine public confidence in the electoral process. The specific special election in question took place in November 2025.
Sheriff Bianco, on the other hand, has stated that the ballots were taken as evidence. He asserted that the seizure followed a complaint regarding a perceived discrepancy in the vote count. While Sheriff Bianco indicated that the alleged vote count inaccuracy was not significant enough to have altered the election’s outcome, the circumstances surrounding the seizure remain a central point of contention in the legal proceedings.
The California Supreme Court’s review of the case will determine the legality of Sheriff Bianco’s actions and the extent of his authority concerning election materials. The outcome could have implications for election oversight and the handling of ballots in the state.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.
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