Fraud Merchants


JSM Inc.

JSM Inc., is a signature gathering firm based in Florida, started by Jenny Breslin. Often working as a subcontractor for either Arno Consulting or National Voter Outreach, JSM first came onto BISC’s radar screen when presidential candidate Ralph Nader hired them in 2004 to circulate petition sheets for his presidential nomination. Multiple states reported fraud and forgery associated with the collection of those signatures.

Arizona

  • 2004. JSM was hired by Ralph Nader to circulate petitions in Arizona where election officials discovered that JSM illegally used a convicted felon to collect signatures. ("Kerry Should Hold Nader Close, Not Push Him Away," New York Times, July 22, 2004)

California

  • 2007.  Circulators working for JSM were discovered circulating an initiative to change the way the electoral college were awarded.  These circulators were staking out a table in Los Angeles' Skid Row, offering the homeless bags of chips and sodas in returning for their signature on the petition.  Although JSM denied these charges, voter registration cards issued from that location were traced back to JSM by the Secretary of State.  ("Homeless Given Food to Sign Ballot Petitions," Los Angeles Downtown News, November 5, 2007)

Ohio

  • 2004. Ralph Nader hires JSM, Inc to circulate petitions in Ohio for his presidential run leading to widespread accounts of fraudulent petition sheets and the illegal use out-of-state circulators. ("Six Testify Against Nader Petition Fraud," The Enquirer (Cincinnati), September 22, 2004)

West Virginia

  • 2004. A lawsuit was filed against JSM, the company Ralph Nader hired to circulate petitions, claiming JSM violated state election laws by not displaying credentials that would identify them as seeking signatures for Nader; failing to inform voters of the petition's purpose; displaying the petition in a way that failed to show it was for Nader; and refusing, delaying or giving inconsistent or misleading answers to questions from those who signed the petition. At least 20 complaints were filed with Manchin's office during July and August regarding the deceptive tactics used by Nader's petition circulators. Jenny Breslin, President of JSM Inc, attributed problems to a misunderstanding of local rules. ("Nader Expected to Gain Spot on W.Va. Ballot," Associated Press, August 18, 2004.)

Click to Read BISC's Guidelines for Signature Reform