Video Shows Payment for Signatures
On a sunny afternoon in SoMa, a street videographer recorded a line of people offering cash for petition signatures. The sign on the corner read “Can you read & Write? Sign Petition for $5.” The clip shows workers handing people a pen and a paper, then telling them what first name and what address to write. The person recording said he sat for two hours and saw hundreds of people come and go. That is not how petition drives are supposed to work when the goal is a legit, verifiable signature tied to the actual voter.
Who’s Behind the Petitions
Multiple reports link the petitions to Building a Better California, a new political group backed by high tech donors. InfluenceWatch and other outlets say the group was seeded with millions from prominent billionaires. The petitions in the video included measures tied to a wealth tax fight and a retirement and savings protection act. Whether the PAC formed to counter a wealth tax or to shape other ballot fights, big money and petition gathering now overlap in a way worth watching.
Watch the Clips
The raw footage and reactions are online for anyone who wants to judge for themselves. Watch the video and the commentary from legal and media figures below.
https://twitter.com/ZavalaA/status/2031558751619285412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Campaigns and PR Responses
Campaign spokespeople were quick to disavow the conduct. A Building a Better California representative said the group contacted the signature firm and rejected any petitions from the circulator in the video. That is the standard PR play. Blame the vendor, cut ties, promise an internal review. It is useful to note who runs the communications shop. The person who spoke has worked in marketing and at other well funded initiatives, which means the message will be polished and dispatched fast.
Legal Questions and Official Probe
California election officials have opened a probe into possible petition fraud. Local TV found that professional firms are paid roughly $15 to $17 per valid signature. The odd part in the video is the extra cash being handed to people on the spot and the apparent use of third party names and addresses. If true, that creates a stack of legal problems for circulators, for the firms that hire them, and for the campaigns that accepted the petitions. It also highlights a systemic issue: campaigns hire contractors to collect thousands of signatures, but oversight is spotty and incentives can invite shortcuts.
Why This Matters for Voters
Ballot access is supposed to be a citizen process. When signature gathering becomes a paid, coached exercise, the public loses trust. Vulnerable people can be targeted for quick cash, names can be misused, and campaigns can unknowingly submit flawed petitions. The story is not just about one corner in San Francisco. It is about how modern ballot campaigns use contractors, big donors, and rapid collection methods. If we care about clean ballots, we need stronger checks on how signatures are gathered and verified.
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