Cash‑for‑Ballots Scheme Exposed on Los Angeles Streets, Targeting Homeless Residents
- Richard Sykes
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
LOS ANGELES, CA — A sweeping undercover investigation has uncovered what appears to be a coordinated cash‑for‑ballots and petition‑signature scheme operating openly on the streets of Skid Row, where homeless residents were allegedly offered cash, cigarettes, and drugs in exchange for signing election documents. The findings have sparked outrage, raised urgent questions about election integrity, and prompted calls for criminal prosecution. 1 2 3
Undercover Footage Reveals Widespread Illegal Activity
Independent journalist James O’Keefe and his team at O’Keefe Media Group (OMG) spent several days posing as homeless individuals on Skid Row, capturing at least 28 instances of petition circulators offering illegal incentives for signatures on voter registration forms and ballot petitions.
Petition workers were recorded offering cash, cigarettes, and marijuana to unhoused residents.
Several circulators openly admitted they are paid $7 to $10 per signature, with some claiming they earn over $1,000 per day.
Many homeless signers appeared unaware of what they were signing or why. 1 3
One circulator was caught on camera advising an undercover journalist to “just fake an address” and even suggested using “Pinocchio Lane” as a residence. 1
LAPD officers reportedly dismissed the activity as a “civil lawsuit,” despite the clear evidence of potential criminal election fraud.
Nonprofit Staff Allegedly Directed Homeless Residents to Petitioners
Footage also appears to implicate staff at the Weingart Center, a major taxpayer‑funded homeless services nonprofit on Skid Row.
Employees were recorded directing homeless individuals toward petitioners “across the street, under that tree… Monday through Friday.”
One staffer coached undercover journalists on plausible deniability, saying: “A lot of times, I have to say ‘I didn’t know, I had no idea.’” 1 3
The Weingart Center has received hundreds of millions in public funding, including $112 million in 2022 alone, and holds more than $800 million in net assets, according to the investigation. 3
Who’s Behind the Petitions?
Multiple petition circulators told investigators they were working for Populus Inc., a political consulting firm. The petitions they were circulating included:
A 5% tax on billionaires to fund healthcare programs
A measure to overturn Los Angeles’ $30 minimum wage for hotel and airline workers ahead of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics 1
Circulators also cited major corporate funders such as Uber, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association as financial backers of the petition efforts. 1 3
Violence Erupts as Journalists Confront Petitioners
On March 20, 2026, O’Keefe and his team were assaulted while attempting to document the scheme.
The journalists were punched, pepper‑sprayed, and forced to flee after their cover was blown.
LAPD officers reportedly dismissed the activity as a “civil lawsuit,” despite the clear evidence of potential criminal election fraud. 2
No serious injuries were reported.
Legal Stakes: Federal Felonies and State Violations
According to OMG’s reporting, the conduct captured on video violates both federal and state law:
52 U.S.C. §10307(c) — prohibits offering money or anything of value for voter registration; punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
California Elections Code §18603 — prohibits offering compensation for petition signatures. 3
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli has publicly vowed to prosecute individuals involved in fraudulent election schemes, stating:
“Nothing is more important than the integrity of our elections.” 2
A Vulnerable Population Exploited
The investigation highlights how unhoused residents—many struggling with addiction, mental illness, or extreme poverty—are being targeted by well‑funded political operations seeking signatures at any cost. Many signers appeared confused, unaware of the petitions’ content, or simply desperate for a few dollars or a cigarette.
What Happens Next?
The revelations have triggered:
Calls for state and federal investigations
Scrutiny of nonprofits receiving public funds
Renewed debate over California’s petition‑signature industry, which relies heavily on paid circulators
Concerns about election integrity ahead of major statewide and national contests
As of now, neither Populus Inc. nor the Weingart Center has issued a detailed public response to the allegations.
References (3)
1 O’Keefe Media Group Undercover Investigation Exposes Cash-for-Ballots Election Fraud Scheme Targeting Homeless on LA’s Skid Row – California Globe. https://californiaglobe.com/fl/okeefe-media-group-undercover-investigation-exposes-cash-for-ballots-election-fraud-scheme-targeting-homeless-on-las-skid-row/
2 Conservative Journalists Assaulted on Skid Row After Exposing 'Cash for Ballots' Scheme - Los Angeles Today. https://nationaltoday.com/us/ca/los-angeles/news/2026/03/21/conservative-journalists-assaulted-on-skid-row-after-exposing-cash-for-ballots-scheme/
3 Activists in LA Caught on Video Targeting Homeless People, Drug Addicts in Cash for Ballots Scheme › American Greatness. https://amgreatness.com/2026/03/18/activists-in-la-caught-on-video-targeting-homeless-people-drug-addicts-in-cash-for-ballots-scheme/
Comments