Riverside County moving to destroy 650,000 Prop 50 ballots Bianco seized

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) Riverside County says it is moving ahead with destroying the roughly 650,000 Proposition 50 ballots Sheriff Chad Bianco seized in February, after the state Department of Justice told the county it finished reviewing his investigation and had no objection.

Bianco says the Registrar of Voters is destroying the ballots Tuesday. He announced it Monday in a campaign email, saying his attorney told him. The county's statement does not give a date.

"This is exactly what AG Rob Bonta wanted — for trust in our elections to be buried, along with any evidence of a crime," Bianco wrote.

County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen sent News Channel 3 this statement:

"Following the California Supreme Court's rulings concerning the November 2025 Special Election, the ballots seized by the Sheriff's Department were returned to the Registrar of Voters. The County subsequently sought written guidance from the California Department of Justice and Secretary of State regarding the appropriate disposition of those materials.

"The Department of Justice has confirmed that it has completed its review of the Sheriff's investigation and has no objection to the County's disposition of the ballots in accordance with State law. The Secretary of State's Office has also confirmed that the ballots must be destroyed pursuant to California Elections Code section 17302(c).

"Following receipt of this guidance and an independent legal review confirming the County's obligations under State law, the Registrar of Voters will proceed with the destruction of the ballots in accordance with established election procedures.

"The County remains committed to secure, accurate, transparent, and lawful elections. We have confidence in Registrar Art Tinoco and the dedicated professionals in the Registrar of Voters office, who continue to carry out their responsibilities while preparing for the November 3 General Election."

Bianco seized the ballots Feb. 26 while investigating a claim from the Riverside Election Integrity Team that the county counted 45,896 more ballots than it took in. Registrar Art Tinoco says the real gap was 103 ballots.

The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously Sept. 24 the seizure was unlawful and ordered the ballots returned. The registrar got them back Sept. 29.

State law only required the county to keep ballots from the November 2025 special election for six months. That deadline passed in May. The ballots lasted this long because the Supreme Court ordered them preserved while it decided the case.