Court blocks California effort to stop Republican sheriff’s ballot recount

California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a petition with the state's fourth appellate district Monday seeking a court order to halt the Riverside County sheriff's recount of more than 650,000 ballots from November 2025's special election. The sheriff's department seized the ballots last month and has been conducting what Bonta characterizes as a "misguided investigation" that threatens public confidence in elections. Bonta argues that the unauthorized recount undermines election integrity and the legitimacy of the state's voting process. The case hinges on whether a county law enforcement agency can independently audit ballots without authorization from state election officials. The legal dispute reflects broader tensions over ballot security and the proper chain of custody for voting materials.