Dem-Linked Petition Scammers Bribe Homeless with $5 to Forge Signatures [WATCH]

California election officials said Friday they are investigating allegations that signature collectors in San Francisco offered cash payments to individuals in exchange for signing ballot petitions using false names.

The investigation follows a video posted Monday on X that appears to show a group of people lined up along a sidewalk next to a sign reading, “Sign petition for $5.”

In the video, a woman seated at a folding table appears to direct individuals on what name and address to provide when filling out petition forms.

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When the person recording asked what the petitions were for, the woman responded, “Just sign it.”

The California Secretary of State’s office confirmed it is reviewing the matter.

In a statement, the office said it was “aware of, and investigating, the matter.”

Under California law, ballot measures can be placed before voters if campaigns gather a required number of valid signatures.

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Campaigns are permitted to pay signature gatherers per signature collected, which creates an incentive to obtain large numbers of signatures. However, offering money or gifts directly to individuals in exchange for signing petitions is illegal.

The Secretary of State’s office also emphasized that submitting petitions containing false or forged information is a criminal offense.

“It is also a crime to circulate, sign and/or file those signed petitions with an election official any initiative petition that is known to include forged names,” the office said in a statement.

At least one of the petitions visible in the video was tied to a technology-backed ballot measure aimed at opposing a proposed tax on billionaires.

The effort is funded by Building a Better California, a political committee established by business leaders, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who contributed $20 million to the initiative.

Campaign representatives said the individuals seen in the video were not directly employed by the campaign. Molly Weedn, a spokesperson for the effort, said the campaign is cooperating with authorities and taking steps to address the issue.

“Under no circumstance do we tolerate this type of activity,” Weedn said in a statement.

“Our campaign took immediate action and campaign attorneys reported to authorities.”

Weedn added that the campaign notified election officials as soon as the video surfaced and is working to ensure any petitions containing falsified information are rejected.

Another petition associated with Building a Better California, focused on prohibiting new taxes on retirement savings, also appeared in the footage.

Nathan Click, a spokesperson for that effort, said the campaign has taken action in response to the allegations.

“does not tolerate fraudulent activity in any signature-gathering process,” Click said in a statement.

He added, “As soon as we became aware of the activities in question, we demanded that our signature-gathering firm identify the petition circulator, reject any and all petitions submitted by this circulator.”

Multiple petitions were visible on the table in the video, and it remains unclear whether additional campaigns were involved.

Election officials noted that all submitted signatures are reviewed and compared against voter registration records.

Any signatures that do not match verified voter information are not counted toward the total required for ballot qualification.

The investigation is ongoing as officials work to determine the extent of the activity and whether any laws were violated.

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