California’s Secretary of State is currently looking into alleged voter petition fraud after a video surfaced online that showed a group in San Francisco improperly paying individuals $5 for signatures and advising them to use fictitious names.
The video captures members at a table near downtown San Francisco directing at least one person to sign using a name belonging to a voter from Avila Beach, which breaks state law.
The Secretary of State, tasked with verifying signatures alongside local elections offices, emphasized that it’s illegal to exchange cash for signatures or knowingly submit petitions with forged signatures.
“In California, the initiative process is a crucial aspect of our democracy, and anyone who misuses the system will face consequences,” a spokesperson stated. They added that the matter is under consideration and they appreciate the report.
This investigation has triggered backlash from California Republicans and watchdog groups demanding accountability.
“We are moving quickly to investigate this situation and will look into further actions,” mentioned Rep. David Tangipa (R-Fresno) on social media.
He noted that the issue warrants a comprehensive investigation by the San Francisco District Attorney and the state Attorney General. Yolo County Prosecutor Jeff Reisig also commented, emphasizing that this deserves thorough inquiry.
Harmeet Dhillon, a senior official at the Justice Department focused on election law enforcement, expressed surprise over the fraud allegations on social media.
The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, along with Attorney General Rob Bonta, has not responded to requests for comments, as law enforcement typically avoids discussing ongoing investigations.
This incident has highlighted California’s voter initiative process, which permits organizations to sponsor initiatives and gather signatures for ballot inclusion.
The political group, Building a Better California, financially supported by billionaire Google co-founder Sergey Brin, requires approximately 874,000 valid signatures by June for each of its four initiatives to be eligible for the ballot.
These initiatives include a bond for affordable housing, a plan to close educational funding loopholes, a requirement for regular audits of state expenditures, and a ban on wealth taxes aimed at countering a billionaire tax that has prompted some wealthy residents to leave the state.
It’s not uncommon for groups to hire paid signature collectors who earn money for each valid signature they gather. However, it’s important to understand that offering payment for voter signatures or knowingly submitting petitions with false signatures is illegal.
Political consultant Paul Mitchell described this incident as a “business scam,” suggesting that lower-level contractors might be deceiving those above them who are paying for signatures.
Building a Better California stated it has called for petitioners to identify those responsible for distributing petitions and reporting them to authorities. “We do not condone this behavior or any form of misconduct during the signature collection process,” they clarified.
