California Supreme Court Orders Sheriff to Return 650,000 Ballots

The Supreme Court of California ruled unanimously on September 24, 2026, that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco unlawfully seized approximately 650,000 voted ballots from the November 2025 Proposition 50 special election. The court ordered the immediate return of the 1,000 boxes of ballots to Riverside County Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco, determining that state law requires ballots to remain in the custody of election officials regardless of criminal investigations or search warrants.

Bianco initiated the seizure in February following claims from the Riverside Election Integrity Team regarding a 45,000-vote discrepancy. Tinoco dismissed these claims as a misreading of data. In its ruling, the court also affirmed the constitutional authority of Attorney General Rob Bonta to order sheriffs to halt investigations, mandating that Bianco obey Bonta's order to pause the probe.

Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero stated that search warrants do not supersede the state Elections Code. Governor Gavin Newsom praised the decision, noting he had signed legislation on September 19 making the seizure of ballots before certification a felony to prevent future occurrences. While Bianco stated he would obey the ruling, he argued the decision grants the attorney general unchecked power over state investigations and indicated he is considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.