CA Sheriff’s Fresh Ballot Seizures Intensify Battle Over Election Recount

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican candidate for governor, seized 426 additional ballot boxes as part of a criminal probe into alleged voter irregularities, adding to a prior seizure of about 650,000 ballots. State officials led by Attorney General Rob Bonta say the investigation lacks credible evidence and have filed lawsuits to pause or challenge it; a separate lawsuit seeks to block a recount tied to last year’s Prop 50. A UCLA Voting Rights Project suit and a secretary of state critique underscore concerns about undermining public trust in elections, while a court panel denied a bid to stop the recount. Critics note a claimed discrepancy of 45,896 votes versus the actual difference of 103, highlighting the dispute over the case’s basis.