Local & Community
Riverside County Sheriff Pushes Forward with Ballot Review Amid Election Irregularity Claims
In Riverside County, the Sheriff's Department is moving forward with an investigation into alleged voting irregularities following the November 2025 special election, as questions persist over discrepancies in ballot counts.
Sheriff Chad Bianco addressed the public in a press conference Friday March 20th, emphasizing that the investigation remains ongoing and inconclusive.
“We don’t know what happened,” Bianco said, underscoring that previous statements on the matter from County officials were opinions rather than confirmed findings. He added that investigations must continue regardless of conflicting claims, especially when reported figures differ significantly.
The controversy centers on allegations from a local election integrity group, which claims that while approximately 611,000 ballots were cast, more than 657,000 votes were counted—suggesting a discrepancy of tens of thousands of ballots. These claims prompted the sheriff’s department to obtain search warrants in February, allowing access to ballots and election records from the county’s registrar of voters.
Bianco confirmed that the department’s next step is a full physical count of ballots. Investigators will compare the number of physical ballots to official records and reported totals submitted to the state.
“Our goal is the truth,” Bianco said. “We want to verify whether the ballots match what was counted so we can assure residents that our elections are accurate—or identify a problem if one exists.”
The investigation has not been without controversy. Bianco stated that California Attorney General Rob Bonta attempted twice to halt the ballot review. However, a Riverside County Superior Court judge allowed the investigation to proceed. Bianco was sharply critical of Bonta, accusing him of politicizing the situation and hindering the investigative process.
At the same time, in 2023, Rob Bonta announced an investigation into the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department over allegations of a pattern of excessive force and other civil rights violations, citing in part high rates of deaths and use-of-force incidents within county jails. That investigation is still on going.
Despite the tensions, the sheriff’s office says it remains focused on completing a thorough and transparent review. Officials argue that continuing the investigation is essential to maintaining public trust, particularly amid widespread concerns about election integrity.
The issue is not entirely new for the county. Bianco noted that similar election concerns were investigated in 2022, though those efforts did not result in definitive findings.
There is currently no set timeline for completing the ballot count. Authorities say the process will continue with oversight from an appointed independent expert to ensure accuracy and credibility.
As the investigation unfolds, county officials maintain that verifying the integrity of the election process is critical—both to confirm accuracy or to address any potential issues uncovered.
By: NBC Palm Springs
March 20, 2026
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About 650,000 ballots and election materials are back with Riverside County election officials after the California Supreme Court ruled their seizure violated state election law. The materials remain under the registrar’s control as officials determine next steps.
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