A video posted on X by user JJ Smith appears to show a group of people near downtown San Francisco being offered $5 each to sign a California state ballot initiative petition, with one participant apparently being told to use a specific name and address on the form.

The campaign behind the petition, Building a Better California, says it does not tolerate fraud and has demanded that the signature-gathering agency identify the circulator, reject associated petitions, and notify authorities, while the California Secretary of State's office confirmed it is reviewing the matter.

In the footage, a crowd can be seen standing in line near downtown San Francisco, waiting to add their names to paperwork spread across a table. When the person filming asked what the gathering was about, a man in the video responded plainly: "It's for signing a petition. You get five bucks to sign a petition."

Woman Allegedly Instructed Signer to Use Another Person's Name

Later in the video, a woman seated at the table where documents were being distributed can be heard telling someone to sign using the name "Carol Sanderson of Avila Beach." A petition circulated by Building a Better California is visible in the footage. The petition is tied to a measure called the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act, which would prohibit taxes on personal wealth in California, the NY Post reported.

That ballot measure needs approximately 874,000 valid signatures to qualify for a November vote. It aims to ban proposals such as the controversial "billionaire tax," which some critics say has driven ultra-wealthy residents to relocate to states with lower tax burdens. Building a Better California, backed by Google co-founder Sergey Brin, has raised roughly $45 million from a coalition of wealthy donors to support the initiative and others.

Among the major contributors, Brin donated $20 million. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Stripe founder Patrick Collison, Ripple chairman Chris Larsen, and venture capitalist Michael Moritz each gave $2 million, along with other donors.

Campaign Spokesperson Condemns the Alleged Fraud

The issue has sparked concern among political observers and ballot initiative advocates about the integrity of the signature-gathering process. Abby Lunardini, a spokesperson for Building a Better California, issued a firm response to the video's allegations.

"To be clear, we absolutely do not tolerate this or any type of fraudulent activity in the signature-gathering process," Lunardini said. "The campaigns have demanded that the signature-gathering agency identify the circulator and reject any petitions that are received from that circulator."

"They are also alerting the appropriate authorities," Lunardini added. According to reports, the individuals filmed engaging in the alleged fraud were also paying people to sign other petitions.

State Officials Confirm Paying for Signatures Is Illegal

Nathan Click, a spokesperson specifically for the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act, echoed those concerns. "As soon as we became aware of the activities in question, we demanded that our signature-gathering firm identify the petition circulator, reject any petitions submitted by this circulator," Click said. "We are requiring the signature-gathering firm to ensure that all protocols are strictly enforced."

The California Secretary of State's office, which is responsible for validating signatures on voter initiatives, confirmed that offering cash for petition signatures is illegal under state law. A spokesperson also noted that knowingly filing petitions containing forged signatures is a crime. "In California, the initiative process is an important part of our democracy, and those who abuse our system will be held accountable," the spokesperson said. "We are currently reviewing this matter and appreciate the report. If anyone has further information about this incident, please send us information."

Sacramento political consultant Paul Mitchell weighed in on X, writing that "signature gathering has been off the rails for years." Mitchell speculated that "a street-level contractor is defrauding the contractor one level above them, who is paying for the signatures." He added: "It is fraudulent, but a business fraud. No ballot measure committee wants this behavior, and no county will validate these signatures." Mitchell suggested the woman at the table may collect payment and disappear before anyone discovers the fraud, though none of the fraudulent signatures would ultimately qualify.

Lessons to Learn

1. Be wary of anyone offering money in exchange for your signature on a petition. In California, paying individuals to sign ballot initiatives is against the law, and participating in such a scheme — even unknowingly — could expose you to legal consequences. Always ask questions before signing any document presented to you in a public setting.

2. Verify the legitimacy of petition circulators before engaging. Legitimate campaigns employ registered circulators who follow strict protocols. If something feels off — such as being told to use someone else's name — walk away immediately and consider reporting the encounter to election officials.

3. Report suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities. The California Secretary of State maintains a voter complaint website for exactly this type of situation.

Why This Story Matters

This incident strikes at the heart of California's democratic process, where ballot initiatives allow citizens to directly shape state law. When signature-gathering fraud goes unchecked, it undermines public confidence in every petition that reaches the ballot. Building a Better California has authored four measures for the November ballot addressing affordability, housing, government audits, and wealth tax prohibitions, and is also supporting two additional measures sponsored by the Nor Cal Carpenters Union and the California Chamber of Commerce, making the integrity of the signature process critical for multiple consequential proposals.

In summary, a video posted by X user JJ Smith appears to show people in San Francisco being paid $5 to sign a state ballot initiative petition, with at least one person instructed to use another individual's name and address. The petition is connected to the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act, a measure backed by Building a Better California and funded by tens of millions of dollars from prominent tech billionaires. Both campaign spokespersons condemned the activity and demanded their signature-gathering firms identify and cut ties with the circulator involved.