{"id":"921347f5-f0e4-4216-acca-c62fc53ec974","url":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/24/california-sheriff-ballots-chad-bianco","domain":"theguardian.com","outlet":{"name":"The Guardian","country":"GB","cred":4,"lean":-1,"curated":true,"owner":"Guardian Media Group"},"title":"California sheriff ordered to return ballots he confiscated in voter ‘fraud’ inquiry","plainHeadline":"California sheriff ordered to return about 650,000 ballots seized","rewrite":{"model":null,"at":null},"summary":["Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized roughly 650,000 ballots in February.","The ballots were taken during a probe of unfounded voting improprieties in a November 2025 special election.","California Supreme Court ruled the seizure unlawful and ordered return of the ballots.","The court mandated Bianco refrain from further handling the ballots beyond compliance with the order.","Governor Newsom praised the ruling and signed a law to prevent ballot seizures."],"topics":["Politics"],"lang":"eng","publishedAt":"2026-09-24T18:55:15.000Z","ingestedAt":"2026-09-24T19:11:46.352Z","story":"https://brief.concise.news/story/89ac1a9d-c298-43b7-a57d-851f0b05e9ea","storyId":"89ac1a9d-c298-43b7-a57d-851f0b05e9ea","image":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/541ccbc5478002d99bff5bf7321c5626fd35920c/531_227_3036_2429/master/3036.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7b93ceddc0c96b1faf043b780f0b3944","author":"Guardian staff and agency","dek":"State supreme court rules Chad Bianco’s conduct unlawful and says he ‘must refrain from further handling’ of ballots"}