California Supreme Court Orders Bianco to Return Ballots

The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously on September 24 that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco unlawfully seized ballots from the county registrar and must return them. In a separate ruling, the court said Attorney General Rob Bonta had authority to direct Bianco to halt the investigation tied to the seizure. The justices ordered Bianco to return the ballots to the registrar and refrain from further handling them except as necessary to comply with the order. The decisions resolved two related cases: one challenging the seizure and seeking the ballots’ return, and another contesting Bonta’s authority to intervene. The court said California law requires voted ballots to remain in election officials’ custody, including when law enforcement seeks to examine them. The rulings do not establish whether the ballots have since been returned. Bianco’s office still held them on September 23, the day before the decisions. Nor do the supplied accounts establish whether he will continue investigating. Bianco had said in August that his office would proceed regardless of the court’s ruling, but that statement preceded the court’s order to halt the investigation.