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September 24, 2026
California Supreme Court Orders Sheriff to Return 650,000 Ballots Seized During Fraud Inquiry
- The California Supreme Court ruled that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco unlawfully seized approximately 650,000 ballots from the November 2025 special election regarding congressional redistricting.
- The court emphasized that ballots must remain under the custody of election officials, even during investigations, and ordered Bianco to return the ballots.
- Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to prevent future unlawful ballot seizures, reinforcing election integrity protections.
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7 Sources
- California Supreme Court rules sheriff must return seized ballotsSep 24, 2026 at 5:34 PM · Washington Post
- Republican Sheriff Illegally Seized California Ballots, Court RulesSep 24, 2026 at 5:53 PM · NYT
- California sheriff ordered to return ballots he confiscated in voter ‘fraud’ inquirySep 24, 2026 at 6:55 PM · The Guardian
- Sheriff must return 650,000 ballots after ‘unlawful’ seizure, California Supreme Court rulesSep 24, 2026 at 7:05 PM · Independent
- California sheriff unlawfully seized over 650,000 ballots and must return them, state Supreme Court rulesSep 24, 2026 at 7:48 PM · CBS News
- California Supreme Court rules sheriff who ran for governor must return seized ballotsSep 24, 2026 at 7:50 PM · The Hill
- California Supreme Court orders Riverside County sheriff to return 650,000 seized ballotsSep 25, 2026 at 6:44 AM · ABC News