Full Breakdown
Riverside County Sheriff Investigates Discrepancies in 2025 Special Election Ballots
3/21/2026, 8:29:58 PM
Investigation Overview
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has initiated an investigation into significant discrepancies in the reported number of ballots cast during the November 2025 special election. The Riverside County registrar of voters reported that over 657,000 ballots were counted by machines, while an independent group of concerned citizens indicated that handwritten logs from elections officials and poll workers recorded just over 611,000 votes. This discrepancy of approximately 45,800 votes has raised concerns about the accuracy of the election results.
Official Responses
During a press conference, Sheriff Bianco emphasized the importance of the investigation, stating, "I'm not saying anyone is lying, or there's a series of mistakes... We're talking about the difference between having a perfect count, and a 45,800 vote difference. That's massive." He noted that the investigation aims to verify the accuracy of the election results, regardless of the outcome. In support of this effort, a superior court judge has appointed a special master to oversee the counting of the ballots.
Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco defended the machine count, attributing potential errors in the handwritten logs to the nature of the work performed by temporary employees. "Those documents are completed by people working long hours, who might have made mistakes," Tinoco explained at a recent Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta expressed strong opposition to Bianco's investigation, describing it as "unprecedented in both scope and scale" and asserting that it is not based on factual evidence. Bonta criticized the sheriff's actions, stating, "Sheriff Bianco's investigation appears not to be based on facts or evidence but on unfounded allegations that have already been refuted by the Riverside Registrar of Voters." He also revealed that he had sent two letters to Bianco requesting the cessation of the investigation.
Criticism of the Investigation
The investigation has drawn criticism from various quarters, particularly from Bonta, who expressed disappointment over Bianco's statements during the press conference. Bonta's office has raised concerns about the implications of the sheriff's actions, suggesting that they may undermine public confidence in the electoral process. Bianco, in response to the backlash, stated that the outrage surrounding the investigation was "extremely concerning" to him.
Conclusion
As the investigation unfolds, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office is tasked with determining the validity of the election results amidst conflicting reports. The outcome of this inquiry may have broader implications for public trust in electoral integrity within the county.
