WNYC Investigation: Mayor Adams' Ballot Petitions Allegedly Include Forged Signatures and Dead Voters

Investigation into Ballot Petitions

• 🎯 A WNYC investigation uncovered dozens of forged signatures on petitions submitted by Mayor Eric Adams' campaign to appear on the November ballot.
• ⚠️ The petitions also included signatures from deceased individuals, raising serious questions about the integrity of the collection process.

Campaign's Need for Signatures

• 🚀 Mayor Adams skipped the Democratic primary and needed at least 7,500 valid signatures to run as an independent candidate.
• 📈 His campaign submitted approximately 50,000 signatures, with the investigation focusing on potential fraudulent methods used to collect them.

Methods of Alleged Fraud

• ✍️ Many individuals stated their signatures were forged, with handwriting not matching their own, and some claimed they were misled into signing.
• 🤫 In some cases, petitions were folded to obscure Mayor Adams' name, leading signers to believe they were endorsing a different candidate.
• 💀 The investigation identified at least three instances where signatures from deceased individuals were submitted.

Petition Collection Firms

• 🏢 Adams' campaign hired third-party vendors, including an out-of-state firm called Public Appeal, to collect signatures.
• 🤝 Another firm, My Brand, was paid over $200,000 for signature collection and canvassing, though their vetting process was described as rushed.
• ⚠️ Allegations suggest that some contractors may have submitted fraudulent signatures, with questions arising about the oversight and verification processes.

Campaign and Legal Responses

• ⚖️ Mayor Adams' attorney stated the campaign will hire a special counsel to review signatures, particularly those attributed to deceased individuals.
• ⏳ The campaign faces limited legal recourse due to strict deadlines for challenging signatures and filing lawsuits, with no DA's offices yet announcing an inquiry.
• 🗳️ The investigation highlights a sense of betrayal among voters in Adams' base, whose confidence in democracy may be further eroded by these allegations.