California sheriff seizes 650,000 ballots in fight over vote tally

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized more than 650,000 ballots from November’s California elections amid a dispute over the Prop. 50 count, planning a hand recount after a private group claimed excess votes; state officials say Bianco lacks authority to conduct a recount, while county officials note intake tallies are estimates and the final tally was within 0.16% (103 votes) of the initial estimate, underscoring partisan tensions around election administration.