Court denies AG’s petition to block Republican sheriff’s investigation of 650,000 ballots - Los Angeles Times

A court has rejected an attorney general's petition to halt a Republican sheriff's investigation into 650,000 ballots, allowing the probe to proceed. The decision represents a legal setback for the AG's office, which sought to block the sheriff's examination of the ballot records. The investigation touches on election integrity concerns that have remained contentious since 2020, with Republicans and Democrats offering sharply different interpretations of ballot handling and counting procedures. The ruling means the sheriff can continue accessing and reviewing the ballots, which could generate findings that either validate or undermine claims about potential irregularities. The case underscores the ongoing legal battles over election audits and ballot reviews in a politically divided landscape.