SF Chronicle - Newsom signs bill blocking ballot seizures ahead of California primary

San Francisco Chronicle; Raheem Hosseini, Staff Writer
Updated May 27, 2026, 2:55 p.m.
 

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s unprecedented seizure of 650,000 local voters’ ballots earlier this year just inspired a new law to stop him from doing it again.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Bianco-inspired legislation on Wednesday, during a news conference his office billed as an act to safeguard California’s elections from threats both inside and outside the state. The emergency legislation takes effect immediately, six days before millions of California voters decide whether they want Bianco, a Republican who is also running for governor, or another candidate to succeed Newsom.

Link to full article: Newsom signs bill blocking ballot seizures ahead of California primary