Homeless Voters in Los Angeles Report Being Paid to Cast Ballots in Mayoral Race

Homeless residents of Skid Row in Los Angeles are alleging that they were paid cash sums ranging from $2 to $5 by political operatives to cast votes for Mayor Karen Bass and city councilwoman Nithya Raman during the recent mayoral election. Videos posted on social media show multiple individuals recounting how they accepted money in exchange for voting, with some negotiating higher payments. Kevin Shepherd, one such resident, stated that he received $4 after initially being offered $2 to cast a mail-in ballot for Bass. Similarly, Rene Johnson and other unnamed residents confirmed receiving similar amounts of cash while being instructed on whom to vote for.

These allegations come amid concerns over the surge in votes from post-election day ballots that secured Raman's second-place finish, which many view as mathematically improbable. Don Garza, a disabled military veteran living on Skid Row since 1999, criticized voter registration drives run by nonprofit organizations, stating that they have long taken advantage of homeless populations. He emphasized the need for these groups to stop exploiting the community's voice and interests.

The allegations suggest a pattern of systematic exploitation rather than isolated incidents. Earlier reports indicated that thousands of homeless voters were registered at Los Angeles shelters despite not actually residing there. For instance, a shelter in Venice with 185 registered Raman supporters received $600,000 in taxpayer funds tied to her office, raising further questions about the integrity and transparency of voter registration efforts targeting homeless populations.