The California Supreme Court issued a ruling on Thursday requiring Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to return over 650,000 ballots that were confiscated as part of an investigation into potential election fraud. The ballots originated from a November 2025 special election concerning statewide congressional redistricting, a measure that ultimately passed with significant support, including a margin of approximately 80,000 votes within Bianco’s own jurisdiction.

Sheriff Bianco had seized the records in February, citing concerns over voting improprieties. However, the state’s highest court determined that the seizure was unlawful. The court’s decision effectively ends the sheriff's hold on the materials, which were central to his inquiry into the redistricting vote championed by Governor Gavin Newsom. While the sheriff framed the action as a necessary step to investigate potential fraud, the court’s ruling characterizes the intervention as lacking legal standing. The ballots are now required to be returned to the appropriate election authorities, concluding a months-long dispute between local law enforcement and state election oversight processes.