California Sheriff Seizes Ballots from 2025 Election

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco claims ballot count discrepancy, sparking concerns over election integrity.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 12:21am

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Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is running for California governor, has seized more than half a million ballots from the 2025 special election on redistricting, citing a reported discrepancy in the ballot count. California's Attorney General has called Bianco's move unprecedented and says it is designed to sow distrust in elections.

Why it matters

This case raises serious concerns about the integrity of elections in California, as a sheriff running for governor has taken unilateral action to seize ballots, despite election officials disputing the claims of a discrepancy. It also highlights the broader political tensions around election security and the potential for elected officials to undermine public trust in the democratic process.

The details

Sheriff Bianco says his office launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from a local citizens group about the ballot count from a November 2025 special election on redistricting. In that election, voters approved a measure to redraw congressional district lines to favor Democrats. Bianco seized nearly 1,000 boxes of ballots and elections materials from the county's elections office, claiming a discrepancy between the handwritten ballot intake logs and the number of votes reported to the state. However, elections officials have refuted this, saying the machine count and the final count submitted to the state differed by only about 100 votes, and that the handwritten rolls were kept by temporary workers who may have made mistakes.

  • In February 2026, Sheriff Bianco seized the ballots and elections materials from the county's elections office.
  • The ballot counting and investigation is ongoing, with a special master appointed by a judge to oversee the process.

The players

Chad Bianco

The Republican sheriff of Riverside County, California, who is running for governor and has seized the ballots from the 2025 special election.

Rob Bonta

The Democratic Attorney General of California, who has called Bianco's move unprecedented and says it is designed to sow distrust in elections.

Riverside County Elections Office

The county elections officials who have disputed Bianco's claims of a ballot count discrepancy.

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What they’re saying

“This investigation is simple: Physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes reported.”

— Chad Bianco, Riverside County Sheriff

“This ballot seizure is unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent and will only sow distrust in our elections.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

What’s next

The judge-appointed special master will continue the ballot counting and investigation process, with the results expected to be released in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing political tensions around election integrity and the potential for elected officials to undermine public trust in the democratic process. It underscores the importance of maintaining impartial and transparent election procedures, and the need for strong safeguards to prevent the misuse of authority by those in positions of power.