The California Secretary of State’s office is investigating apparent ballot initiative petition fraud in San Francisco stemming from a video circulating online. The video was posted by a city street videographer known as JJ Smith. The video appears to show paid signature collectors offering $5 to people on the streets if they signed petitions using other people’s voter registration information. In an interview with KCRA 3, Smith described the people lining up to sign the petitions as those who are “down on their luck.” He said he was on the corner of 6th and Mission Street when he started capturing the scene of an apparent crime. In emails and text messages with KCRA 3, three campaigns acknowledged their petitions were being passed around by the petition circulators seen in Smith’s video. Two of the campaigns are backed by billionaires known as Building a Better California and Californians for a More Transparent and Effective Government. The two are fighting a proposed billionaire’s tax with a series of anti-tax measure. The third campaign involved is backing the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act of 2026. Spokespeople for the three campaigns said the circulators were not directly affiliated with the campaigns and noted they were paid by unnamed signature gathering firms. All three are demanding the firm identify the circulator and reject their petitions. “Our campaign is absolutely incensed and under no circumstance do we tolerate this type of activity in the signature gathering process,” said Molly Weedn on behalf of Californians for a More Transparent and Effective Government. “We do not tolerate this or any type of fraudulent activity in the signature-gathering process,” said Abby Lunardi on behalf of Building a Better California. “We are requiring the signature-gathering firm to ensure that all protocols are strictly enforced. Our attorneys are also alerting the appropriate authorities,” said Nathan Click, a spokesman for the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act. While his video is just under two minutes long, Smith said he was in the area watching the scene for hours. He said none of the proposals were actually explained to the hundreds of people he saw come and go to sign the petitions. Smith said the secretary of state’s chief investigator contacted him late Tuesday afternoon. “Under California law, it is illegal to give money or other valuable consideration to another in exchange for their signature on an initiative petition,” a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office said in a statement Tuesday. “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. In California, the initiative process is an important part of our democracy and those who abuse our system will be held to accountable.” The office encouraged anyone with information on the matter to contact the office. Meanwhile, Smith said this wasn’t the first time he saw signature collectors apparently breaking the law. He said the same group was in the area four days ago. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The California Secretary of State’s office is investigating apparent ballot initiative petition fraud in San Francisco stemming from a video circulating online.
The video was posted by a city street videographer known as JJ Smith. The video appears to show paid signature collectors offering $5 to people on the streets if they signed petitions using other people’s voter registration information.
In an interview with KCRA 3, Smith described the people lining up to sign the petitions as those who are “down on their luck.”
He said he was on the corner of 6th and Mission Street when he started capturing the scene of an apparent crime.
In emails and text messages with KCRA 3, three campaigns acknowledged their petitions were being passed around by the petition circulators seen in Smith’s video.
Two of the campaigns are backed by billionaires known as Building a Better California and Californians for a More Transparent and Effective Government. The two are fighting a proposed billionaire’s tax with a series of anti-tax measure.
The third campaign involved is backing the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act of 2026.
Spokespeople for the three campaigns said the circulators were not directly affiliated with the campaigns and noted they were paid by unnamed signature gathering firms.
All three are demanding the firm identify the circulator and reject their petitions.
“Our campaign is absolutely incensed and under no circumstance do we tolerate this type of activity in the signature gathering process,” said Molly Weedn on behalf of Californians for a More Transparent and Effective Government.
“We do not tolerate this or any type of fraudulent activity in the signature-gathering process,” said Abby Lunardi on behalf of Building a Better California.
“We are requiring the signature-gathering firm to ensure that all protocols are strictly enforced. Our attorneys are also alerting the appropriate authorities,” said Nathan Click, a spokesman for the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act.
While his video is just under two minutes long, Smith said he was in the area watching the scene for hours. He said none of the proposals were actually explained to the hundreds of people he saw come and go to sign the petitions.
Smith said the secretary of state’s chief investigator contacted him late Tuesday afternoon.
“Under California law, it is illegal to give money or other valuable consideration to another in exchange for their signature on an initiative petition,” a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office said in a statement Tuesday. “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. In California, the initiative process is an important part of our democracy and those who abuse our system will be held to accountable.”
The office encouraged anyone with information on the matter to contact the office.
Meanwhile, Smith said this wasn’t the first time he saw signature collectors apparently breaking the law. He said the same group was in the area four days ago.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel