Spencer Pratt accuses Karen Bass of illegally campaigning by drop box

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt has filed a formal complaint accusing incumbent Mayor Karen Bass of violating election laws by allegedly campaigning too close to a ballot drop box during early voting.

The complaint, sent Tuesday to the Los Angeles City Clerk’s Office, claims Bass engaged in illegal electioneering while encouraging voters to cast ballots ahead of the June primary.

Attorney Peter McNulty, representing Pratt’s campaign, alleged she appeared in social media videos “soliciting votes” and “holding signs asking voters to vote for her” near a polling place and ballot drop box.

The letter further claims Bass “flagrantly violated” both City of Los Angeles Election Code provisions and California election law, and notes a separate complaint has also been filed at the state level due to the seriousness of the alleged conduct.

The complaint argues those actions violated restrictions barring electioneering within 100 feet of voting locations, saying the mayor showed a “reckless disregard for the rule of law.”

“Karen Bass just violated election law here. She is so accustomed to breaking the law with no accountability, she even filmed herself doing it,” Spencer Pratt wrote on X while sharing the formal complaint and responding to a video Bass posted Monday.

Pratt also said he decided to file the complaint after reviewing what his campaign described as “clear, repeated, and publicly documented violations,” adding that the issue was not political messaging but “equal enforcement of election law regardless of office or status.”

In the video, she spoke with supporters and campaign volunteers canvassing on her behalf before later dropping off ballots alongside them.

“Electioneering within 100 feet of a ballot box is AGAINST THE LAW. Soliciting votes at a ballot box is AGAINST THE LAW.

“These clear violations show a reckless disregard for the rule of law and our democratic process,” Pratt added accusing Bass of operating a “mafia-like regime.”

According to Los Angeles election law, campaign activity is prohibited within 100 feet of a polling place, ballot drop box, or elections office.

The ordinance bans soliciting votes, displaying campaign materials such as signs, shirts or logos supporting a candidate, and speaking to voters about how to cast their ballots. The rule is intended to prevent electioneering and voter influence near voting locations.

The Bass campaign maintains no election law violation occurred.

“Spencer is just mad that his supporters are AI cartoons and we have real Angelenos. We follow the rules,” Alex Stack, campaign spokesperson for Bass, told The California Post.

The campaign said the video was filmed at two separate locations. According to the campaign, the portion featuring campaign signs was shot in the middle of the park, while the second location showed the ballot drop box. The campaign claims the two locations were roughly 200 feet apart.

The allegations stem from a campaign video posted roughly one week before the June primary election. In the clip, Bass is seen thanking supporters as they submitted ballots into a drop box while she promoted voting and her reelection campaign.

The City Clerk’s Office has not yet publicly responded to the complaint. The Post has also reached out to them for comment.

On June 2, if no candidate secures more than 50% of the voters, the top two vote getters adcance to a run off in November.

A recent Emerson College poll shows Pratt running a competitive campaign against incumbent Karen Bass.

The race has been heavily shaped by viral, fan-generated AI videos portraying Pratt as a superhero saving the city from political villains.

Bass is polling at 30%, while Spencer Pratt is in second place with 22% support. Nithya Raman trails at 19%, with 16% of voters still undecided.

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