Ballot Initiative Signature-Gatherers Caught Paying for Signatures in San Francisco

Signature-gathering operation backed by billionaire PAC accused of fraudulent tactics

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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A street videographer in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood captured footage of signature-gatherers allegedly offering homeless individuals $5 to sign ballot initiative petitions, including instructing them to use names and addresses that were not their own. The signature-gathering operation is tied to a billionaire-backed political group called Building a Better California, which is accused of employing these tactics to gather signatures for several proposed ballot initiatives.

Why it matters

This incident raises serious concerns about potential election fraud and the integrity of the ballot initiative process in California. Paying individuals to sign petitions using false identities undermines the democratic process and calls into question the legitimacy of any resulting ballot measures. It also highlights the influence of wealthy special interests in shaping the state's political landscape.

The details

The video footage shows signature-gatherers offering $5 to passersby in exchange for signing petitions. One worker is seen instructing a woman to sign the name 'Carol Sanderson' and provide an address in Avila Beach, despite the woman's own identity. The signature-gathering operation is linked to Building a Better California, a political advocacy group founded with $35 million from tech billionaires including Google co-founder Sergey Brin and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

  • The video was recorded on Monday, March 9, 2026 around 1:54 pm in the SoMa neighborhood of San Francisco.
  • The California Secretary of State's office has launched an investigation into the alleged petition fraud following the release of the video.

The players

JJ Smith

A street videographer who captured the footage of the signature-gathering operation in San Francisco.

Building a Better California

A political advocacy group founded with $35 million from tech billionaires, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. The group is accused of employing the alleged fraudulent signature-gathering tactics.

Abby Lunardi

The chief marketing officer of Truity and former chief communications and brand officer for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Lunardi is the spokesperson for Building a Better California who stated the group does not tolerate fraudulent activity in the signature-gathering process.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“We do not tolerate this or any type of fraudulent activity in the signature-gathering process.”

— Abby Lunardi, Spokesperson, Building a Better California (Email)

What’s next

The California Secretary of State's office is investigating the alleged petition fraud, and it remains to be seen what actions, if any, will be taken against the signature-gathering operation or the political groups behind it.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for greater oversight and transparency in the ballot initiative process to prevent wealthy special interests from exploiting vulnerabilities and undermining the democratic will of California voters. It also raises broader questions about the role of money in shaping the state's political landscape.