Investigation into Signature Collecting Schemes in California

Mon Mar 16 2026 20:13:05 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

California election officials are probing into alleged illegal practices involving paid signature collectors offering money for ballot petitions with falsified information.

In a startling development, California election officials have launched an investigation into signature collectors in San Francisco, who were reportedly offering $5 to individuals for signing ballot petitions using false names. A video surfaced showing a woman instructing people on what names to use, raising questions about the legitimacy of the signature-gathering process. Officials from the campaigns involved stated they are taking immediate action against any fraudulent activities and are cooperating with authorities. Under state law, paying for signature collections is illegal, and any petitions containing forged names will not be counted.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California election officials announced an investigation on Friday, digging into allegations of signature collectors in San Francisco who allegedly paid people to sign ballot petitions using false names.

A video recorded earlier this week featured a sign reading Sign petition for $5 with several people queuing along the sidewalk. In the footage, a woman manning a folding table directed people on what names and addresses to use. When questioned about the purpose of the petitions, she advised simply to sign.

The California Secretary of State's office confirmed they are aware of and investigating the incident.

In California, aspiring measures can be placed on ballots through the collection of hundreds of thousands of signatures, and campaigns can incentivize workers to gather them, allowing payment per signature. This approach has sparked concerns about the authenticity of signatures being collected under questionable practices.

One petition identified in the video aimed to combat a proposed tax on billionaires, funded notably by prominent business figures, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Campaign spokesperson Molly Weedn asserted that those collecting signatures were not working directly with the campaign but that they are working closely with authorities to rectify the situation and reject petitions gathered with false information.

In line with state law, it is illegal to offer financial incentives for signing ballot measures, and any signatures unaligned with voter registration records will be disregarded. The Secretary of State's office underscored that it constitutes a crime to circulate or file any initiative petition containing forged signatures.