California Supreme Court voids sheriff's ballot seizure, setting national precedent for election security
The California Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco violated state law by seizing 650,000 ballots from the 2025 Proposition 50 election. The court ordered the immediate return of the materials to election officials, affirming that the Attorney General has direct supervisory authority over local sheriffs. This decision establishes a critical legal precedent as election officials prepare for the November 2026 midterms, with new state laws now criminalizing unlawful ballot seizures.
