California election officials are investigating a disturbing allegation that petition circulators in San Francisco were paying individuals to sign ballot petitions using fake names.
According to state officials, the investigation began after a video surfaced online earlier this week showing what appears to be a sidewalk operation offering cash in exchange for signatures on ballot petitions, News4Jax reported.
The footage, posted Monday on X, shows a sign reading “Sign petition for $5” with a line of people waiting along a San Francisco sidewalk.
At a nearby folding table, a woman appears to be instructing individuals on what name and address to use while filling out the petitions.
When the person recording the video asked what the petitions were for, the woman simply responded: “Just sign it.”
The video quickly went viral and caught the attention of California election authorities.
In a statement Friday, the California Secretary of State’s office confirmed it is actively investigating the matter.
“We are aware of, and investigating, the matter,” the office said.
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