- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Riverside County Sheriff Seizes Ballots, Raising Concerns Over Election Integrity
The sheriff's actions have sparked legal battles over the limits of law enforcement power in elections.
Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:58am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has obtained search warrants to seize hundreds of thousands of ballots from the November election, claiming he has the right to investigate alleged voter fraud. This has sparked a legal battle with the state attorney general over whether sheriffs have the authority to override election officials and handle ballots. Experts warn that if Bianco is successful, it could set a dangerous precedent that empowers other far-right 'constitutional sheriffs' to interfere with elections across the country.
Why it matters
The Riverside County case highlights the growing threat of election denialism and the efforts by some law enforcement officials to undermine the democratic process. If sheriffs are allowed to seize and investigate ballots at their own discretion, it could create a crisis of confidence in election results and give extremist groups a path to overturn legitimate outcomes.
The details
Sheriff Bianco obtained secret search warrants from a judge to seize hundreds of thousands of ballots from the November Proposition 50 election in Riverside County. He claims he has the right to investigate alleged voter fraud, despite orders from the state attorney general to stop. Bianco's actions are part of a broader movement of 'constitutional sheriffs' who believe they are not beholden to state or federal law. Experts warn that if Bianco succeeds, it could empower other sheriffs to seize ballots in future elections, disrupting the chain of custody and undermining public trust.
- On March 25, 2026, Bianco obtained search warrants to seize ballots.
- On March 28, 2026, the state attorney general ordered Bianco to stop his ballot seizure, but Bianco continued taking more ballots.
- On March 30, 2026, Bianco announced he would pause his ballot investigation, but the legal battles continue.
The players
Chad Bianco
The Riverside County sheriff who has seized ballots and claims the right to investigate alleged voter fraud, despite orders from the state attorney general.
Rob Bonta
The California attorney general who has filed legal action to stop Bianco's ballot seizure, arguing that sheriffs do not have the authority to handle or investigate ballots.
Matt Barreto
The faculty director of the UCLA Voting Rights Project, who argues that Bianco's actions violate California election law and could set a dangerous precedent.
Chad Dunn
The co-founder of the UCLA Voting Rights Project and trial lawyer who warns that Bianco's actions could jeopardize the entire election process.
Xavier Becerra
The Democratic candidate for California governor who has joined the lawsuit to uphold the laws governing ballot handling.
What they’re saying
“This is about more than just what Sheriff Bianco is doing. ... It shouldn't happen. And again, it doesn't matter if Democrats are winning or Republicans are winning, no sheriff should come in and take over possession or counting of ballots.”
— Matt Barreto, Faculty Director, UCLA Voting Rights Project
“Once the chain of custody ... is broken, as they have been with these, you'll never count them in a way that you'll be able to get reasonable confidence from the public. It puts the entire election process in jeopardy.”
— Chad Dunn, Co-Founder, UCLA Voting Rights Project
What’s next
The state Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether Bianco's actions violate California election law, and the courts will also have to determine the limits of a sheriff's authority in elections.
The takeaway
The Riverside County case highlights the growing threat of election denialism and the efforts by some law enforcement officials to undermine the democratic process. If sheriffs are allowed to seize and investigate ballots at their own discretion, it could create a crisis of confidence in election results and give extremist groups a path to overturn legitimate outcomes.
