The other ballot issues are never mentioned. This is a misdemeanor under California election code. But the f'kery continues in many different ways.

My hope for this diary is that we can collect up everyone's experiences and post links to any articles relating to this.

There seems to be 3 different aspects to the fraud. The collection methods for the signatures (as described above), Daryll Issa's illegal involvement (by poaching the names from the recall signatores and trading food for signatures on skid row.

The children's cancer hospital/sign multiple copies tactic is documented in the UCSB student newspaper, The Daily Nexus. The other tactic used is to describe the initiative as an anti-war initiative (registration required).

Hjiorst has an excellent diary up on Daryll Issa's involvement and Jerry Brown's possible response.

Trading food for signatures on skid row in downtown L.A. seems particularly cynical. (hat tip LooHoo).

If you spot an article, please post a link. If you get hit by these guys, don't be afraid to call the CA Secretary of State (they were very easy to talk to) and your local county voter registrar (no enforcement, but they are put on alert to look extra carefully).

If you encounter these people, please don't interupt their "process" - see exactly what it is they are doing, so it can be reported. There are other groups out there this weekend doing petitioning. The others were doing it by the book and the contrast is quite interesting. The relevant election code is:

California Elections Code SECTION 18600-18603 18600 (b) Willfully and knowingly circulates, publishes, or exhibits any

false statement or misrepresentation concerning the contents,

purport or effect of any state or local initiative, referendum, or

recall petition for the purpose of obtaining any signature to, or

persuading or influencing any person to sign, that petition.

I think this is even more relevant Any person working for the proponent or proponents of a statewide initiative or referendum measure who covers or otherwise

obscures the summary of the measure prepared by the Attorney General

from the view of a prospective signer is guilty of a misdemeanor.

The "circulation deadline", according the the CA Secretary of State website, is November 29th, 2007 to qualify for the June ballot.

Thank you, Vikingkingq for bringing this important issue into view! Let's keep it at the top of the heap.

UPDATE: Cross-posted at Calitics

UPDATE II: The California Democratic Party has a website called FraudBusters.. You can email them your sightings and they will post them on the sight.

UPDATE III - LooHoo provides a link to the Sac Bee article on Issa's involvement.