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UCLA Voting Rights Project Urges California Supreme Court to Reaffirm That Criminal Investigations Do Not Override California Election Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu 

UCLA Voting Rights Project Urges California Supreme Court to Reaffirm That Criminal Investigations Do Not Override California Election Law

New merits brief argues that Sheriff Chad Bianco’s seizure and counting of ballots violated clear California law and asks the Court to order the return of all election materials to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters.

LOS ANGELES (June 30, 2026) — The UCLA Voting Rights Project filed a new merits brief in Cervantes v. Bianco, urging the California Supreme Court to reaffirm that California law strictly governs who may take custody of, handle, count, and review ballots and election materials. The filing argues that Sheriff Chad Bianco’s seizure and counting of ballots in Riverside County violated the Elections Code and that a criminal investigation does not give law enforcement license to bypass the safeguards the Legislature established to protect ballot custody, transparency, and public confidence in election outcomes. 

The brief asks the Court to order the return of all ballots and election materials seized from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, require a detailed written account of how those materials were handled while outside the Registrar’s custody, and require disclosure of any spoliation, destruction of seals, tapes, ballots, or records. It also argues that Bianco’s actions amounted to an unauthorized recount or election contest conducted outside the public, transparent procedures required by California law. 

Xavier Becerra, Senior Advisor and Voting Rights Counsel at the VRP, noted: “Now more than ever, with bad actors employing every technique available to sour voters’ confidence in our elections, we must protect the integrity of the ballot and our vote. The California Supreme Court has an opportunity to affirm the vitality of California’s election laws that safeguard ballots from tampering, no matter who the bad actor may be — including a law enforcement official.”

“Riverside County voters are harmed each day these ballots remain outside the lawful jurisdiction of election officials,” added Sonni Waknin, senior voting rights counsel at the VRP. “The Court should act without delay to protect the integrity of our elections and make clear that ballots must be handled only through the processes established by California law.”

“This case asks the California Supreme Court to reaffirm the careful process by which ballots and election materials are handled,” said Chad Dunn, legal director of the VRP. “This case is important nationally as more and more politicians, without evidence, call into question the veracity of reported election outcomes. Now is a critical time for the California high court to take decisive action protecting the integrity of election records by ensuring only trained election personnel, not politicians, ever touch ballots.”

Petitioners argue that California law is clear: ballots are supposed to stay with election officials, and any review must happen through the legal process created for elections. 

Read the brief here.

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ABOUT the UCLA Voting Rights Project

The UCLA Voting Rights Project was established to protect equal voting rights for all Americans through strategic litigation, social science research and policy advocacy. The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu.

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UCLA Voting Rights Project’s Statement on the SCOTUS Decision in Watson v. Republican National Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu 

UCLA Voting Rights Project’s Statement on the SCOTUS Decision in Watson v. Republican National Committee

LOS ANGELES (June 29, 2026) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today in Watson v. RNC, holding that federal law does not require mail ballots to be received by Election Day. The decision allows states to continue counting ballots that are cast by Election Day and received after the polls close, in accordance with state law.

Statement from the UCLA Voting Rights Project:

“In a significant win for democracy, the U.S. Supreme Court has empowered states to control their election deadlines, allowing validly cast ballots postmarked by election day to be counted. This interpretation reinforces the rights of the states to control their election infrastructure and ensures that every legally cast ballot is counted.  Writing for the Court, Justice Barrett made clear, votes cast by Election Day are valid and states can determine when to count them.

“States all across the country have laws in place that permit voters to drop off or mail their ballots on election day and have those votes counted. For decades, this practice has been utilized with success in Republican and Democratic controlled states, and allowed wider voter access and participation, including for military and overseas American voters. Millions of people may not be able to physically vote in person on election day and use legal vote-by-mail ballots and trust the United States Postal Service to deliver their ballots. Today, the Supreme Court has ensured these equitable practices continue, allowing states to enforce laws making the franchise accessible for all.  The decision emphasizes the power of states over elections, highlighting their ability to enact and enforce their own election laws meant to make voting possible for all eligible voters. 

“California currently allows for timely post-marked ballots to be counted if received seven-days after election day, and can continue its policy, ensuring that voting remains open and accessible to all those eligible. In light of recent blows to democracy, this decision reinforces that the fight for equal voting for all can and must continue.  The UCLA Voting Rights Project will continue fighting for voters and the expanded franchise.”

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Statewide Survey of California Opinions on Democracy

On April 27, 2026, the UCLA Voting Rights Project and the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies hosted the release and discussion of the UC Berkeley IGS poll on California attitudes towards Democracy reforms.

Pollsters Dr. Eric Schickler and Dr. Matt Barreto provided an in-depth review of the poll results and what these data reveal about the political landscape of the state. It ultimately documented that California voters are extremely concerned about attacks on democracy.

The two panels brought together California voting rights experts and elected officials to discuss the implications of these findings by the IGS poll and how to best move forward to ensure the protection and strengthening of California’s Democracy. 

Contributors: Eric Shickler & Matt Barreto

StatewideSurveyOfCAOpinions_april 2026 poll_FINAL PDFDownload
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VRP Data Scientists Present Language Access Research in Sacramento

C&P New Press Release Below: 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu

Jessica Cobian and Diego Casillas, UCLA PhD students present important research on the efficacy of bilingual voting materials at Sacramento briefing.

SACRAMENTO (June 23, 2025) — This year marks the 50th anniversary of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, a landmark federal provision requiring jurisdictions to provide bilingual voting materials and assistance to voters with limited English proficiency. To commemorate this milestone, the UCLA Voting Rights Project presented new research at the California State Capitol examining whether California is adequately advancing equitable ballot access for limited English-speaking immigrant voters.

The event—“Does California Go Far Enough to Ensure Immigrant Inclusion in Our Democracy?”—was hosted by the USC Center for Inclusive Democracy, in partnership with the California Latino Legislative Caucus and the California Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. The event was made possible through support from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the Haas Jr. Fund.

Research Highlights from the UCLA Voting Rights Project

UCLA VRP Senior Fellow, Jessica Cobian presented findings from the report, The Efficacy of Translated Voting Materials. The analysis finds that translated materials play a critical role in enhancing voter confidence, minimizing confusion at polling sites, and improving administrative efficiency. The report further emphasizes the indispensable role of bilingual poll workers and the need for sustained collaboration with community-based organizations to advance linguistic inclusion and ensure equitable access to the ballot for limited English-speaking voters.

“Language access is a vital mechanism for civic inclusion. When jurisdictions fail to address language barriers, entire communities are excluded from shaping the policies that govern their lives and electing the representatives who speak on their behalf. Advancing language access requires sustained investment, collaborative outreach, and long-term institutional commitment.” — Jessica Cobian, Senior Fellow, UCLA Voting Rights Project

UCLA VRP Senior Fellow, Diego Casillas shared findings from the report, The Impact of Federal Section 203 Language Voting Mandates on the 2016 Census Determinations and 2020 Election Turnout. This analysis demonstrates that jurisdictions required to comply with Section 203 experienced significantly higher turnout among limited-English proficient voters in the 2020 election.

Jessica Cobian, UCLA Voting Rights Project Senior Fellow, presenting in Sacramento

ABOUT THE  VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT

The UCLA Voting Rights Project is a project of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, in collaboration with the UCLA School of Law aimed at creating an accessible and equitable system of voting for all Americans through impact litigation, research, and clinical education to expand access to the ballot box.

Founded in 2018 by civil rights attorney Chad W. Dunn, J.D. and voting rights political science expert Matt Barreto, Ph.D. the VRP seeks to address three gaps in the voting rights field: training newly graduated, young lawyers and expert witnesses; developing new legal and social science theories for voting rights cases; and advancing voting rights through national and local public policy and litigation.

The  VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals, regardless of race, partisanship, gender or class are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the  Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu

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CA Supreme Court Advances UCLA Voting Rights Project Case Over Riverside Election Materials Seizure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu

California Supreme Court Advances UCLA Voting Rights Project Case Over Riverside Election Materials Seizure

In a case brought by four Riverside County voters represented by UCLA VRP, the justices directed respondents to explain why the relief sought by petitioners should not be granted, moved the matter forward on an expedited basis, and left in place the April 8 stay issued in the Attorney General’s related case.

LOS ANGELES (May 14, 2026) — The California Supreme Court has ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco to show cause why the relief sought by petitioners in Cervantes v. Bianco should not be granted. The Court has directed respondents to file returns within 30 days, said the matter will proceed on an expedited basis, and indicated it does not anticipate granting extensions absent specific and compelling good cause. The Court also denied petitioners’ separate application for a stay in light of its April 8 stay order in Attorney General v. Bianco, which remains in effect. 

In its petition, the UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) challenged Sheriff Bianco’s seizure of ballots and election materials from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters and asked the Court to halt any further seizure or handling of those materials, restore lawful custody, and require that any further review proceed only under California election law and through authorized election officials. In recent weeks, VRP’s clients also notified the Court of additional developments, including the seizure of 426 additional boxes of election materials and new concerns involving the handling and security of materials while the case has been pending. 

“The Court order makes clear that our client’s case is moving forward and will receive full consideration on an expedited basis,” said Sonni Waknin, Senior Voting Rights Counsel at VRP. “The issues raised in the petition are of serious concern and warrant full consideration by the Court.”

The order moves the petition into a fuller merits phase and maintains the protections already imposed by the Court in the related Attorney General matter.

Read the order here.

ABOUT the UCLA Voting Rights Project

The UCLA Voting Rights Project was established to protect equal voting rights for all Americans through strategic litigation, social science research and policy advocacy. The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu.

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UCLA Voting Rights Project, Campaign Legal Center Sue to Block Florida’s Partisan Gerrymander

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers, alammers@luskin.ucla.edu 

UCLA Voting Rights Project, Campaign Legal Center Sue to Block Florida’s Partisan Gerrymander

Lawsuit argues Florida’s new congressional map violates the state constitution’s voter-approved ban on maps drawn to favor a political party or incumbent. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 4, 2026) — Today, the UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) and the Campaign Legal Center — on behalf of individual Florida voters — sued to block Florida’s new illegal, gerrymandered congressional map, arguing that state lawmakers violated the Florida Constitution by drawing districts to favor one political party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The lawsuit seeks to enforce Florida’s voter-approved Fair Districts Amendment.

The hastily drawn map was passed after an unprecedented special session last week with no opportunities for public input before or during the map-drawing process. The map also flies in the face of Florida’s voter-approved Fair Districts Amendment, which explicitly prohibits crafting maps to “favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.” In addition to the blatant partisan intent, the map also violates a requirement to utilize political and geographic boundaries.

Florida lawmakers are suggesting that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais is a green light to ignore the Fair Districts Amendment and justify their egregious partisan gerrymander. But Floridians overwhelmingly voted to ban intentional partisan gerrymandering by adopting the Fair Districts Amendment in 2010, and no court has ruled that any provisions of the Fair Districts Amendment — including the partisan gerrymandering prohibition — are unconstitutional.

“The Florida Legislature, at the behest of Governor DeSantis and President Trump, is attempting to fast-track an illegal gerrymander for partisan gain, blatantly violating the state’s constitution,” said Simone Leeper, senior legal counsel for redistricting at Campaign Legal Center. “In 2010, Floridians made it clear that voters should determine who represents them, and not the other way around. The Fair Districts Amendment plainly states that congressional and state legislative districts cannot ‘favor or disfavor’ any particular party. Instead of abiding by this law, the Legislature is defying the will of voters and backing a map that was crafted entirely with partisan intent. We stand ready to defeat this unconstitutional map to ensure that all Floridians can make their voices heard during the 2026 midterm election cycle.” 

“Florida voters made clear that congressional maps should not be drawn to entrench one political party’s power,” said Bernadette Reyes, senior staff attorney at VRP. “The lawsuit is about enforcing that promise. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais does not erase Florida’s constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering, and it does not give lawmakers permission to override the will of the voters.”  

Read the filing here.

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UCLA Voting Rights Project Filing Alerts CA Supreme Court to Alleged Security Breach in Riverside Ballot Seizure Case

Letter also urges Court to decide on whether a sheriff may lawfully take possession of ballots outside official election process.

LOS ANGELES (April 28, 2026) — The UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) today filed a letter alerting the California Supreme Court to developments that came to light after briefing closed on March 30, 2026. According to the filing, Sheriff Bianco’s counsel allegedly created a public link that allowed access to at least some of the seized election materials, raising new election security concerns while the case remains pending. The letter also argues that, even after the Court’s interim action in the Attorney General’s matter, the Justices should still resolve the election-law questions presented in this case before the 2026 primary election moves forward. 

“We are asking the Court to do more than pause this particular investigation. We are asking it to make clear that ballots and election materials cannot be taken out of the hands of election officials and handled outside the safeguards established by California law,” said Sonni Waknin, senior voting rights counsel at VPR. “What has happened in Riverside shows why that question cannot be left unanswered. With primary voting beginning in a few days, the Court should act quickly to reaffirm that ballot custody, security, and review must remain under lawful election procedures and not be left to ad hoc actions by law enforcement.”

Read the filing here.

ABOUT the UCLA Voting Rights Project

The UCLA Voting Rights Project was established to protect equal voting rights for all Americans through strategic litigation, social science research and policy advocacy. The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu.

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UCLA Voting Rights Project Issues Letter to Riverside County Regarding Concerns Over Sheriff Bianco’s Outside Legal Fees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA Voting Rights Project Issues Letter to Riverside County Regarding Concerns Over Sheriff Bianco’s Outside Legal Fees

Letter outlines why Riverside Co. taxpayers should not be on the hook for Sheriff’s private attorney’s fees.

LOS ANGELES (April 13, 2026) — The UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) today sent a letter to Riverside County supervisors outlining concerns over any possible effort by the County to pay outside legal fees incurred by Sheriff Chad Bianco after he hired a private law firm to defend himself in litigation arising from his seizure of approximately 650,000 ballots and election materials.

Riverside County has noticed a closed-session discussion for Tuesday, April 14, involving four lawsuits against Sheriff Bianco. One of those matters is the case brought by VRP clients, who challenged Bianco’s seizure of ballots and election materials from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters. Today’s letter states that Bianco chose to defend himself through outside counsel rather than be defended by the Riverside County Counsel, and that he did so without first obtaining the approval required under California law.

Under Government Code section 995.1, a county employee seeking outside legal defense must request that defense from the County before those costs are incurred. According to VRP’s letter, Sheriff Bianco did not do that. Instead, retaining private counsel to defend him in the four separate lawsuits over his election-related conduct.

“Sheriff Bianco chose to hire his own private lawyers without any indication that he followed the process required by California Law.” said Sonni Waknin, Senior Voting Rights Counsel at the VRP. “It is concerning that Riverside County taxpayers may be asked to cover possibly hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in legal fees resulting from that decision.”

The letter also points to a similar dispute in Los Angeles County, where then-Sheriff Alex Villanueva contracted with outside legal counsel without approval from the County Board. In that matter, a California appellate court found that the County had retained the power to contract for legal services, not then-Sheriff Villanueva. The letter argues that the same principle applies here: Sheriff Bianco cannot bypass County Counsel, hire his own private firm, and then require Riverside County to reimburse him after the fact.

In its letter, VRP asks the Board of Supervisors to reject any request to reimburse Bianco for private legal fees tied to the pending litigation over his seizure and handling of election materials.

Read the letter here.

ABOUT the UCLA Voting Rights Project

The UCLA Voting Rights Project was established to protect equal voting rights for all Americans through strategic litigation, social science research and policy advocacy. The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu.

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UCLA Voting Rights Project Asks California Supreme Court for Immediate Stay in Riverside Election Materials Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA Voting Rights Project Asks California Supreme Court for Immediate Stay in Riverside Election Materials Case

LOS ANGELES (March 30, 2026) — The UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) today filed a reply with the California Supreme Court asking the Court to immediately stay any further seizure and handling of ballots and election materials while this case proceeds. In the filing, VRP argues that this matter cannot wait because Riverside voters’ rights are being harmed now, the sheriff has continued removing election materials, and no other plain, speedy, or adequate remedy exists to protect the integrity of the electoral process. 

“We are asking the Court to act immediately to stop any further seizure or handling of ballots and election materials while this case is considered,” said Sonni Waknin, Senior Voting Rights Attorney at the VPR. “Contrary to Sheriff Bianco’s statement, Riverside voters absolutely have standing to bring this challenge. The harm is ongoing, and waiting for some other process to unfold would only deepen the damage to public confidence in the system.” 

“Our election law is clear that voted ballots are to remain in the custody of election officials, and nothing the sheriff has presented changes that basic rule,” Waknin added. “The Court should issue a stay now, return lawful custody where it belongs, and prevent any further interference with the handling of election materials.”

ABOUT the UCLA Voting Rights Project

The UCLA Voting Rights Project was established to protect equal voting rights for all Americans through strategic litigation, social science research and policy advocacy. The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu.

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UCLA Voting Rights Project Notifies California Supreme Court of New Developments in Riverside Election Materials Seizure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA Voting Rights Project Notifies California Supreme Court of New Developments in Riverside Election Materials Seizure

Letter cites new reporting from The New York Times, indicating that no special master has been appointed and that Sheriff Chad Bianco seized 426 additional boxes of election materials from the Riverside County Registrar.

LOS ANGELES (March 27, 2026) — The UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) today notified the California Supreme Court of new developments in its pending petition arising from Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s seizure of election materials.

In a letter filed with the Court, petitioners pointed to new reporting by The New York Times indicating that no special master has been appointed in connection with the sheriff’s actions, despite a video recording of Bianco where he claims to the contrary. The filing also cites the Times’ reporting that Bianco seized 426 boxes of new election materials from the Riverside County Registrar on Tuesday of this week.

The letter was filed as the California Supreme Court considers next steps in the case, which has been docketed as Case No. S295866.

“These new developments make an already serious situation even more alarming,” said Sonni Waknin, Senior Voting Rights Attorney of the VRP. “California law is very clear. Election materials are to remain in the custody of election officials and be handled through established public processes. The reported seizure of additional boxes of election materials, without the appointment of a special master, only deepens the urgency of judicial intervention.”

VRP Senior Voting Rights Advisor and former California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, stated, “Today we filed an additional briefing with the Supreme Court documenting that Sheriff Bianco continues to violate the law by removing ballots and election materials from the Registrar of Voters Office. We are calling on the California Supreme Court to order Sheriff Bianco to immediately return all ballots and election material to the custody of the Riverside County Registrar of Voters.”

In the filing, petitioners argue that these developments are causing irreparable harm to the integrity of the electoral process and undermining public confidence in elections. The letter asks the Court to exercise jurisdiction over the matter, as the scope of the seizure continues to expand.

The VPR filed its original writ petition with the California Supreme Court on March 26, 2026, seeking immediate relief in response to the sheriff’s seizure of election materials from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters.

ABOUT the UCLA Voting Rights Project

The UCLA Voting Rights Project was established to protect equal voting rights for all Americans through strategic litigation, social science research and policy advocacy. The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu.

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