ACLU of Southern California says no sheriff has a legitimate role in handling ballots and demands an end to the investigation

The ACLU of Southern California said no sheriff has a legitimate role in administering elections or handling voters' ballots, and that Sheriff Chad Bianco's investigation is a serious threat to voter privacy. It said it joined Attorney General Rob Bonta and state officials in demanding that Bianco end the investigation.

“Let’s be clear: no sheriff has a legitimate role — much less experience — in administering our elections or in handling hundreds of thousands of voters’ ballots. The sheriff's investigation represents a serious threat to voter privacy, undermines our democratic process and raises questions about the misuse of law enforcement authority for political gain. Against the backdrop of the U.S. Department of Justice pressuring states to turn over unredacted voter rolls, this fishing expedition sets a dangerous precedent and reeks of election meddling. We cannot look away as a local official engages in an authoritarian power grab straight out of President Trump's playbook. We join Attorney General Bonta and our state officials in demanding Bianco put an immediate end to this frivolous investigation.”