Sheriff's Ballot Review Raises Election Concerns

0:00It's March 22nd. Welcome to Canada News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story. A Riverside County Sheriff running for California Governor has taken control of more than half a million ballots from a special election last November. Chad Bianco says he's looking into a mismatch between ballot laws in the final vote totals reported. The election passed a plan to redraw congressional districts, winning by over 80,000 votes in the county of 2.5 million people. Bianco, a Republican twice elected sheriff there, grabbed nearly 1,000 boxes of ballots and materials back in February using a court warrant. He's calling it a straightforward check to count ballots by hand and match them against official numbers. This comes amid his bid in the state's top two primary for governor, this June, where Democrats fear their crowded field could split votes and let. Republicans advance. Many election officials are pushing back hard against Bianco's claims of any real problem.

1:00California Attorney General Rob Bonta has slammed the move as unheard of and a way to undermine trust in voting. He set multiple warnings that Bianco's team lacks the expertise for a proper recount. The ballot review started then paused, but now it's back on track under a judge appointed special master to oversee things. Bonta warns this, sets a risky example, especially with past national debates over election results. Democrats in the state are keeping a close eye as primary season heats up, hoping to avoid any surprises in the heavily blue territory.