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A Republican California sheriff must return more than a half-million ballots he seized for an investigation into unfounded voting improprieties in a special election last year, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco in February seized approximately 650,000 ballots from a November 2025 special election on statewide congressional redistricting favorable to Democrats and pushed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The measure easily passed statewide, and won in Bianco’s county by roughly 80,000 votes.

The court called the ballots’ seizure “unlawful,” saying California law requires voted ballots to remain in the custody and control of election officials, even during a criminal investigation. Bianco must also “refrain from further handling of the ballots except as necessary to comply with our order,” the court said in an unanimous decision. Bianco did not immediately comment on the ruling.

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[-] Eternal192@anarchist.nexus 21 points 20 hours ago

So if it was unlawful why does he still have a job and why isn't he in prison? Anyone else would get a perp walk, to "show" the attempted election fraud.

[-] FiniteBanjo@feddit.online 1 points 16 hours ago

It actually wasn't unlawful back when he did it, so now he has to return it before he is in contempt of court and he will be good to go.

[-] EvilBit@lemmy.world 17 points 21 hours ago

Arrest the motherfucker already

[-] Soulphite@reddthat.com 4 points 18 hours ago

Meanwhile, a citizen would seize 650,000 bank notes from a bank and get 25 years in prison... the hypocrisy is real in the American 'justice' system.

this post was submitted on 24 Sep 2026
68 points (98.6% liked)

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