The California Supreme Court has ruled that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco illegally seized hundreds of thousands of ballots following last year's special election for Proposition 50, finding "that the seizure of the ballots was unlawful."
Governor Gavin Newsom released a statement Thursday in response to the ruling in Cervantes v. Bianco, dated September 24, 2026. According to the Governor's office, Bianco seized the ballots in an attempt to claim and prove voter fraud, but no evidence was ever provided.
"Today's ruling affirms that in California we will defend democracy — using every branch of government," Newsom said. "And the new laws I signed just last week add new protections so attacks like this cannot happen again. People deserve to know their ballot is counted and secure, and in California we will do everything we can to protect that constitutional right — this year, and beyond."
The ruling comes after Newsom signed a 13-bill election protection package last week, which his office said builds on his record defending democracy. The Governor's office also noted that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration's attempts to weaponize the U.S. Postal Service regarding the vote-by-mail process.