The investigation into alleged election fraud in Riverside County has been halted due to "politically motivated lawsuits and court filings." California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a petition for review with the state Supreme Court, urging that voter ballots and election materials seized from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters' office by the sheriff's department be preserved. The UCLA Voting Rights Project has also submitted a petition arguing that all ballots must remain in the custody of the county registrar of voters under state law. The sheriff's office began serving search warrants at the registrar's office on Feb. 9 and a court-appointed special master was ordered to oversee the investigation. The allegations of ballot-counting mistakes have been vehemently denied by both parties.