LA Woman Charged for Paying for Voter Registrations on Skid Row

Federal prosecutors have charged a woman in Los Angeles with paying people on Skid Row to register to vote, raising concerns about election integrity.
By Newsroom | Politics, Crime |

Federal prosecutors have accused a California woman of orchestrating a scheme involving illicit payments for voter registrations, targeting individuals on Los Angeles' Skid Row. The indictment details allegations of paying people, many of them homeless, to register to vote. This alleged operation reportedly involved providing former addresses to unsuspecting individuals, potentially registering them in multiple election jurisdictions.

The crux of the federal complaint centers on alleged payments made to individuals to complete voter registration forms. This action is framed by prosecutors as a direct attempt to inflate registration numbers through monetary incentives. The individual in question, identified as Armstrong, has reportedly made an initial court appearance.

Undercover Footage Reveals Broader Allegations

Beyond the federal charges, independent investigative work by O'Keefe Media Group (OMG) has surfaced, presenting undercover footage suggesting a more extensive pattern of alleged fraud. This footage reportedly shows individuals being paid not only to register to vote but also to sign ballot petitions using the names and identities of other registered voters.

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The conduct captured appears to violate multiple California felony statutes, including Elections Code §18613 (signing another person’s name to a petition), Penal Code §470 (forgery), and Elections Code §18613–18602 (paying for petition signatures).

The allegations suggest that participants, many of whom are homeless, may have been unknowingly engaging in forgery and election fraud in exchange for small sums of cash, cigarettes, or marijuana. Some reports indicate these transactions occurred using fake addresses. OMG's investigation also claims to have identified funders of these operations, including corporations like Uber, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, alongside the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Varying Reports and Long-Standing Concerns

Reports from various outlets frame these events as a significant blow to election integrity. One article points to the footage as "irrefutable evidence of the very fraud California officials have repeatedly downplayed." The California Globe has previously documented "systemic vulnerabilities in California’s election system that enable such fraud."

Separately, the Department of Justice under the Trump administration has been investigating voter fraud in other areas, with a U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights referencing concerns about "fraudulent voting and non-compliance with the Help America Vote Act" in Michigan's Wayne County. These disparate events, while not directly linked in the provided material, highlight a backdrop of heightened scrutiny surrounding electoral processes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the federal charges against the California woman?
Federal prosecutors have accused a woman of orchestrating a scheme to pay people, many of them homeless on Skid Row, to register to vote. The indictment suggests she may have provided former addresses to individuals, potentially registering them in multiple places.
Q: What does the undercover footage suggest?
Independent footage suggests a broader operation where individuals were allegedly paid to register to vote and to sign ballot petitions using other people's identities. This conduct may violate California felony laws related to forgery and petition signing.
Q: Who is accused of funding these operations?
OMG's investigation claims to have identified funders including corporations like Uber, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, as well as the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
Q: What are the concerns raised by these allegations?
These allegations raise significant concerns about election integrity and potential fraud within California's voting system. Some reports suggest that homeless individuals may have been unknowingly involved in illegal activities in exchange for small payments.