Petition Circulator Accused of Violating Penal, Election Codes

Lisa Diane Smith, 38, has been charged with six violations of the Elections Code and six violations of the Penal Code, all felonies.

Officials accuse her of perjury, signing fictitious names to petitions, making a false affidavit concerning a petition, and filing forged documents in a public office.

Smith worked for Brown and Green Professional Services, a political assistance firm engaged in petition and voter registration drives, according to the Sacramento County district attorney’s office.

The arrest was also announced by the secretary of state’s office.

Smith was assigned to work on qualifying a gambling legalization initiative for the November election, a measure that did not make the ballot, authorities said.

She submitted to the company three petition pages later determined to contain forged signatures, for which she was paid $225, according to authorities.

The company became suspicious of the signatures and reported the matter to state officials, who believe that the names were copied from the telephone book.