California Supreme Court to rule Thursday in Bonta v. Bianco ballot seizure case

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KESQ) The California Supreme Court will release its decision Thursday in Attorney General Rob Bonta's case against Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco over his seizure of ballots cast by Riverside County voters in the November 2025 Proposition 50 special election.

The court posted a notice Wednesday morning saying the opinion in Bonta v. Bianco will be filed at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24.

The case centers on whether Bianco can restart his investigation into the special election. The ruling could also set the rules for how far any California sheriff can go in taking ballots from elections officials.

How we got here

Bianco's deputies seized the ballots from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters under three search warrants served between February and March. The sheriff said he was investigating claims from a local citizens group that the number of votes counted didn't match poll worker records. County officials dispute the group's math.

Bonta ordered Bianco to stand down, arguing the sheriff overstepped his authority. On April 8, the Supreme Court took the case, ordered Bianco to pause his investigation and required him to preserve everything he seized. The Sheriff's Office told News Channel 3 in June it still has the ballots.

The justices heard the case Aug. 24 at a special session in San Francisco, back to back with Cervantes v. Bianco, a companion case from four Riverside County voters who want the ballots returned to the registrar.

What the court is deciding

The central question is how much power the attorney general holds over an elected county sheriff. The state constitution gives the attorney general direct supervision over every sheriff in California. Bianco argues the attorney general can't shut down a criminal investigation a judge approved.

The court also asked both sides to address Senate Bill 73, a new state law signed in May that restricts law enforcement from taking ballots from elections officials.

What happens on Thursday

A Supreme Court decision doesn't become final for 30 days. During that time, either side can ask the court to rehear the case.

The court's notice does not say whether the voters' case, Cervantes v. Bianco, will be decided at the same time.

News Channel 3 will post the ruling and reaction from Bonta and Bianco as soon as it's released.

Stick with KESQ News Channel 3 for updates.