Exclusive: ‘Some people should never be allowed to vote’: California sheriff who seized ballots pushes extreme anti-voting rhetoric online
Democracy Docket • • nation
Key Points:
- Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized over 650,000 ballots from California’s 2025 redistricting referendum, raising concerns about his motivations and qualifications to investigate a state election.
- Bianco has a history of promoting false claims on social media alleging widespread voter fraud, echoing narratives pushed by former President Trump and MAGA-aligned GOP figures, despite lack of credible evidence.
- California officials, including the registrar of voters and Attorney General Rob Bonta, argue the alleged ballot discrepancies are minimal and based on misunderstandings, and they are legally challenging Bianco’s actions.
- The sheriff is running for governor and frames his investigation as verifying election results, but critics label it an "amateur" recount lacking legal basis and potentially undermining trust in elections.
- A state appeals court denied a petition to halt Bianco’s recount, citing procedural issues, while the broader legal battle over the seized ballots continues.
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