Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has seized additional ballot materials from a special election, escalating a dispute with state officials over what they characterize as an unfounded voter fraud investigation.

Bianco, a Republican who is running for governor, ordered his office to confiscate 426 additional boxes of ballot materials this week. This action follows his earlier seizure of 650,000 ballots from a previous special election as part of what his office describes as a criminal investigation.

The seizures have drawn criticism from state lawmakers, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat. State officials have characterized the investigation as baseless and lacking substantiation for claims of voter fraud.

The ongoing conflict represents a significant clash between local and state authorities over election oversight and investigative procedures. Bianco's actions come as he campaigns for the governor's office, adding a political dimension to the law enforcement dispute.

The investigation appears to be examining votes from recent elections, though specific details about the alleged irregularities prompting the seizures have not been substantiated according to state officials. The dispute highlights tensions over election security measures and the authority of local versus state officials in overseeing electoral processes.