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Fiendish Thingy

(23,431 posts)
20. Ask the AG
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 08:21 PM
Mar 22

If you or I seized ballots, we’d be in jail.

Here’s an example :

https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-elec/division-18/chapter-6/article-4/section-18568/

2025 California Code
Elections Code - ELEC
DIVISION 18 - PENAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 6 - Corruption of the Voting Process
ARTICLE 4 - Corruption of Voting
Section 18568.

Universal Citation:
CA Elec Code § 18568 (2025)
Learn more
This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
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18568. Every person is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years, or by both that fine and imprisonment, who:

(a) Aids in changing or destroying any poll list or official ballot.

(b) Aids in wrongfully placing any ballots in the ballot container or in taking any therefrom.

(c) Adds or attempts to add any ballots to those legally polled at any election by fraudulently putting them into the ballot container, either before or after the ballots therein have been counted.

(d) Adds to or mixes with, or attempts to add to or mix with, the ballots polled, any other ballots, while they are being counted or canvassed or at any other time, with intent to change the result of the election, or allows another to do so, when in the person’s power to prevent it.

(e) Carries away or destroys, attempts to carry away or destroy, or knowingly allows another to carry away or destroy, any poll list, ballot container, or ballots lawfully polled or who willfully detains, mutilates, or destroys any election returns.

(f) Removes any unvoted ballots from the polling place before the completion of the ballot count.

(g) Displays a container or provides an envelope for the purpose of collecting or returning ballots, with the intent to deceive a voter into casting a ballot in an unofficial ballot or returning a ballot in an unofficial ballot return envelope. Evidence of intent to deceive may include using the word “official” on the container or envelope, or otherwise fashioning the container or envelope in a way that is likely to deceive a voter into believing that the container or envelope is an official collection box or official ballot return envelope that has been approved by an elections official.

(h) Directs or solicits a voter to place a ballot in a container or envelope prohibited by subdivision (g).

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

We have never lacked "election integrity" or confidence in our elections. This is such bullshit. Walleye Mar 22 #1
The ONLY lack of faith in our elections odins folly Mar 22 #6
Bianco better be headed to jail Fiendish Thingy Mar 22 #2
I agree with that oldmanlynn Mar 22 #5
Something he could be pardoned for? bluestarone Mar 22 #11
Not if he's prosecuted under CA state law. Fiendish Thingy Mar 22 #14
What would be the charge? bluestarone Mar 22 #15
Ask the AG Fiendish Thingy Mar 22 #20
Another Banana Republican Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Mar 22 #3
How in the fuck does a sheriff have this type of authority? bluestarone Mar 22 #4
He doesn't have the authority. WestMichRad Mar 22 #7
........Bianco seized ballots in Riverside County, the inland California county of 2.5 million people where he has twice riversedge Mar 22 #8
So, someone tell me what if this happens during bluestarone Mar 22 #9
A former Oath Keeper wants to be governor of the most populous state, California. Chad Bianco aligned himself with a ha riversedge Mar 22 #10
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco accuses attorney general of interfering in election probe riversedge Mar 22 #12
Is this a preview of bluestarone Mar 22 #13
Our State AG should be all over this if he isn't already. Buddyzbuddy Mar 22 #16
He is a hard core right wing religious extremist Nigrum Cattus Mar 22 #17
Someone above said he was an oath keeper wolfie001 Mar 22 #18
I think he's just disqualified himself from office FakeNoose Mar 22 #19
I wonder how many ballots will be lost? Figarosmom Mar 22 #21
Oh THAT... 2naSalit Mar 22 #22
This breaks the chain of verified custody that would allow any credible recount. hay rick Mar 23 #23
Exactly. Nothing there to keep him from lying about the results. mdbl Mar 23 #24
MaddowBlog-Why it's so unsettling to see a Republican sheriff seizing ballots in California LetMyPeopleVote Mar 24 #25
'A dangerous precedent': California AG sues to stop 'amateur' recount of ballots seized by GOP sheriff LetMyPeopleVote Mar 24 #26
Democrats in California Mz Pip Mar 25 #27
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