Calif. Sheriff refuses to return 650,000 ballots as high court reviews seizure

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco defies orders to return roughly 650,000 ballots seized from a November 2025 Prop 50 redistricting election, as the California Supreme Court weighs the legality of the seizure. Attorney General Rob Bonta sued to recover the ballots, arguing the seizure violated state law, while Bianco contends the ballots are lawful evidence and that he must safeguard them for the court. The UCLA Voting Rights Project joined the challenge, highlighting ongoing tensions between election oversight and local law-enforcement actions.