California Probes Alleged Voter Petition Fraud in San Francisco

Republicans demand action as viral video shows illegal $5 payments for signatures

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The California Secretary of State is investigating apparent voter petition fraud after a viral video showed a group in San Francisco illegally offering $5 for signatures and directing someone to use a fake name. The probe comes as outraged California Republicans and watchdog groups demand answers, with some calling for a full investigation by the San Francisco District Attorney and state Attorney General.

Why it matters

This incident highlights concerns about the integrity of California's voter initiative process, where organizations can sponsor initiatives and collect signatures to qualify for the ballot. Allegations of petition fraud undermine public trust in the democratic process and raise questions about oversight and enforcement of election laws.

The details

The viral video shows a group manning a table near downtown San Francisco and instructing at least one person to sign a voter's name from Avila Beach for $5 - a violation of state law. Offering cash for signatures and knowingly filing petitions with forged signatures are illegal in California. The Secretary of State, which is responsible for vetting signatures, said it is currently reviewing the matter.

  • The viral video surfaced on March 11, 2026.

The players

California Secretary of State

The state agency responsible for vetting voter petition signatures and ensuring the integrity of the initiative process.

Assemblymember David Tangipa

A Republican state legislator from Fresno who said he is looking into the matter and will explore further action.

Jeff Reisig

A Yolo County prosecutor who said the alleged petition fraud deserves a full investigation by the San Francisco District Attorney and state Attorney General.

Harmeet Dhillon

A top Department of Justice official charged with election-related law enforcement who reacted to the report with an 'eyes' emoji on social media.

Building a Better California

A Sergey Brin-backed political group whose petitions were seen in the viral video and which needs to submit roughly 874,000 valid signatures by June for each of four initiatives it's sponsoring to qualify for the ballot.

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What they’re saying

“In California, the initiative process is an important part of our democracy and those who abuse our system will be held to accountable.”

— California Secretary of State spokesperson (The Post)

“We are looking into this ASAP and will explore further action.”

— Assemblymember David Tangipa, R-Fresno (X)

“This matter deserves a full investigation by the SF DA and the state AG.”

— Jeff Reisig, Yolo County prosecutor (X)

What’s next

The California Secretary of State is currently reviewing the matter and will determine if further action is warranted. The San Francisco District Attorney's office and state Attorney General have also been called on to investigate the alleged petition fraud.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for robust oversight and enforcement of California's voter initiative process to ensure the integrity of the democratic system. It raises concerns about the potential for fraud and the impact on public trust in elections.