State officials, election experts question California sheriff\u2019s seizure of ballots | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"DEK: The attorney general has suggested the basis of the investigation and warrant stem from a rambling citizen presentation at a county meeting last month.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/state-officials-election-experts-decry-california-sheriff-ballot-seizure\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"State officials, election experts question California sheriff\u2019s seizure of ballots\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"DEK: The attorney general has suggested the basis of the investigation and warrant stem from a rambling citizen presentation at a county meeting last month.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" 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ad--top-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <main id=\"main\" role=\"main\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"25.297111416781\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"33.318284424379\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/state-officials-election-experts-decry-california-sheriff-ballot-seizure\/\"> <span>Election Security<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> The attorney general has suggested the basis of the investigation and warrant stem from a rambling citizen presentation at a county meeting last month. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/88361\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots.jpg?resize=640%2C426&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-5.jpg 5392w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-5.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, 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https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-5.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-5.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-5.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\"><figcaption> Los Angeles, CA – January 06:Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a republican candidate for California governor, joins Kate Monroe, an advocate for veterans, on a tour of Skid Row in Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News\/SCNG) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"49.913322300372\"><body readability=\"100.55369595537\"><\/p>\n<p>A California county sheriff and Republican contender for the state\u2019s gubernatorial race has seized 650,000 physical ballots from Riverside County, saying they were part of an investigation into election fraud tied to redistricting wars.<\/p>\n<p>State officials and election security experts say that the underlying allegations are spurious and local law enforcement do not have the authority to unilaterally investigate or validate election results.<\/p>\n<p>Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said at a news conference Friday that he intended to conduct a hand count of the ballots, which were tied to elections last November, and \u201ccompare that result to the total votes recorded.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a March 6 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/1015362106\/Letter-from-California-Attorney-General-to-Riverside-County-sheriff-dated-March-26\">letter<\/a>, California Attorney General Rob Bonta directed Bianco to pause the investigation until the state could review \u201cthe factual and legal basis\u201d for the probe and seizure.<\/p>\n<p>Based on an initial review of the warrants and affidavits in the case, Bonta wrote that his \u201coffice has serious concerns as to whether probable cause existed to support the issuance of the warrants, and whether your office presented the magistrate with all available evidence as required by law.\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>While Bonta\u2019s letter does not describe the underlying content of the search warrants, it points to a public presentation made by a resident at a Feb. 10 Riverside County Registrar of Voters meeting that \u201caddresses the alleged vote discrepancy that appears to be the basis of your investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=RhzqeYHkhtU\">meeting<\/a>, an individual identifying himself as \u201cErrol\u201d \u2014 wearing a \u201cTrump 2028\u201d hat \u2014 alleged the council had participated in local, state and federal election fraud.<\/p>\n<p>At several points, the individual said he relied on Google for information on individuals and companies he was accusing of receiving improper payments. At another point, he claimed the Riverside County auditor would not disclose the purpose behind thousands of pages of county payments, before saying \u201cyou\u2019re not getting the files, I got them put away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a lot of problems, you guys. You\u2019ve committed serious fraud here, forever,\u201d the individual alleged, adding that he hoped the members of the council were imprisoned.<\/p>\n<p>Bonta accused Bianco of \u201cflagrantly violating my directives\u201d under the California State Constitution, and threatened court action should he proceed with the investigation and hand recount.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The act by Bianco \u2014 who is running third in the state\u2019s open primary for governor this month, per an <a href=\"https:\/\/emersoncollegepolling.com\/california-2026-poll-swalwell-takes-lead-in-governor-primary-25-undecided-election-for-la-mayor-wide-open\/\">Emerson College poll<\/a> \u2014 is the second such seizure of ballots to take place this election cycle, following the FBI\u2019s raid of Fulton County, Georgia\u2019s election office.<\/p>\n<p>Gowri Ramachandran, director of elections and security at the Brennan Center for Justice, told CyberScoop that the election allegedly being investigated<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.npr.org\/2025-election-results\/california.html?section=I\"> wasn\u2019t a close race<\/a>. Further, like virtually every other election, candidates or parties have opportunities to contest irregularities or results, including automatic recounts or recounts paid by candidates or campaigns \u2014 along with state courts that regularly adjudicate questions of election outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s important for people to know none of those processes involve someone coming in and haphazardly coming in and grabbing the ballots,\u201d she said, adding: \u201cI worry if it happens closer to an actual election what it could do to interfere with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ramachandran said that by seizing physical ballots, which she called \u201cthe gold standard\u201d we use for determining ground-level truth about voter intent, Bianco was disrupting the chain of custody that is one of the key processes designed to give voters trust in their elections.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt should just be a really high bar, not just, \u2018I\u2019m suspicious, I want to do a fishing expedition,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s not enough to have someone who doesn\u2019t have any experience in counting ballots or keeping them safe [to] just come in and grab all that stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bonta\u2019s suggestion that Bianco did not materially inform the courts echoes what Fulton County officials alleged in their own lawsuit, which <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/fulton-county-election-raid-expert-testimony-ryan-macias\/\">accused<\/a> the FBI of presenting the judge with a \u201cflagrantly misleading narrative\u201d that omitted key evidence, undermining the government\u2019s basis for investigating the 2020 ballots. <\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"3.683615819209\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"13\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Derek B. Johnson\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Derek B. Johnson<\/h4>\n<p> Derek B. Johnson is a reporter at CyberScoop, where his beat includes cybersecurity, elections and the federal government. Prior to that, he has provided award-winning coverage of cybersecurity news across the public and private sectors for various publications since 2017. Derek has a bachelor\u2019s degree in print journalism from Hofstra University in New York and a master\u2019s degree in public policy from George Mason University in Virginia. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<div class=\"popular-stories__stories\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__cards\">\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \" readability=\"21.263473053892\">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/fulton-county-election-raid-trump-administration-backlash\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"506\" height=\"337\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-2.jpg?resize=506%2C337&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-md size-ratio-16-9-md wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-6.jpg 6000w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-6.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-6.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-6.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-6.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-6.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-6.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-6.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-6.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-6.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-6.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Ballots arrive at the Fulton County Elections Hub and Operation Center on election night on November 5, 2024 in Fairburn, Georgia. The FBI carried out a raid on the Fulton County election offices (Photo by Megan Varner\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\" readability=\"1.8917910447761\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/fulton-county-election-raid-trump-administration-backlash\/\"> Lawmakers, election officials blast Trump administration after Fulton County raid <\/a> <\/h3>\n<p> State election officials pressed White House officials for their legal rationale and expressed concern about the impact of similar raids tied to the 2026 elections. <\/p>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/derek-johnson\/\"> Derek B. Johnson <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/nonprofit-sues-dhs-seeking-records-for-election-official\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"252\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-3.jpg?resize=252%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-7.jpg 2571w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-7.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-7.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-7.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-7.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-7.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-7.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-7.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-7.jpg?resize=505,337 505w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-7.jpg?resize=1012,675 1012w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-7.jpg?resize=1264,843 1264w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Heather Honey, a conservative election researcher, leaves the federal courthouse in Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 18, 2024. (AP Photo\/Mark Scolforo, File) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/nonprofit-sues-dhs-seeking-records-for-election-official\/\"> Government watchdog sues DHS over election official\u2019s records <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/derek-johnson\/\"> Derek B. Johnson <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/voting-rights-groups-seek-emergency-halt-save-database-trump-administration\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"252\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-4.jpg?resize=252%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-8.jpg 3030w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-8.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-8.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-8.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-8.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-8.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-8.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-8.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-8.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-8.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots-8.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> An attendee holds a \u201cRegister to Vote\u201d sign at Fashion For Our Future March on September 06, 2024 in Herald Square, New York City. In a court filing, the groups argued court action was needed to prevent permanent privacy harm from the government\u2019s \u201cillegal and secretive consolidation of millions of Americans\u2019 sensitive personal data.\u201d (Photo by Steven Ferdman\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/voting-rights-groups-seek-emergency-halt-save-database-trump-administration\/\"> Voting groups ask court for immediate halt to Trump admin\u2019s SAVE database overhaul <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/derek-johnson\/\"> Derek B. Johnson <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/state-officials-election-experts-decry-california-sheriff-ballot-seizure\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>State officials, election experts question California sheriff\u2019s seizure of ballots<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78,292,117,1703,4462],"tags":[86,298,119,1707,4466],"class_list":["post-8458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cybersecurity","category-election-security","category-government","category-misinformation","category-voter-fraud","tag-cybersecurity","tag-election-security","tag-government","tag-misinformation","tag-voter-fraud"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cybersecurity\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Cybersecurity<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/election-security\/\" rel=\"category tag\">election security<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/government\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Government<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/misinformation\/\" rel=\"category tag\">misinformation<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/voter-fraud\/\" rel=\"category tag\">voter fraud<\/a>","tag_info":"voter fraud","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8458"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8458\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":8458,"date":"2026-03-23T14:50:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=88361"},"modified":"2026-03-23T14:50:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:50:08","slug":"state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2026\/03\/23\/state-officials-election-experts-question-california-sheriffs-seizure-of-ballots\/","title":{"rendered":"State officials, election experts question California sheriff\u2019s seizure of ballots"},"content":{"rendered":"