Los Angeles Officials Investigate Alleged Payments for Voter Registrations on Skid Row
Homeless residents reported receiving small payments or cigarettes in exchange for signatures and registrations. A federal plea agreement and local interviews describe activity tied to petition circulation ahead of a mayoral primary.
New York PostHomeless residents in Los Angeles reported receiving small amounts of money or cigarettes in exchange for signing petitions and voter registration forms. Several individuals said they were asked to sign documents that already listed names or to register addresses at nearby shelters or churches.
One resident described the exchanges as routine. "They will pay you to fill out the petition," the person told FOX LA. Another said workers offered "Cigarettes, here you go. Court records state she allowed some individuals to use her own address and provided payments ranging from cash to cigarettes and phone cords.
Voting records reviewed by local outlets showed 1,160 registrations linked to the Midnight Mission shelter, which has capacity for 120 people. A separate review identified 7,600 voters connected to various homeless shelters and service providers citywide.
The reports emerged after Tuesday's Los Angeles mayoral primary, where late-counted ballots raised questions about the role of ballot collection. A federal prosecutor stated the office will review the new allegations and follow the evidence. Residents described organized efforts to register voters in specific neighborhoods.
