Million dollar lottery for voting: Opinions?

[Pacifist Patriot]

I'm sorry I don't have details as I caught the tail end of an interview on NPR yesterday evening. Some gentleman who had run for governor was proposing the lottery. Every two years, someone who has voted will win $1 million.

He said the incentive would increase turnout, but he trusted voters to still vote their interests at the polls. I don't know. I fear an increase in people who show up to vote and then either "Christmas tree" the ballot, vote based on name recognition, or some other random method. I don't see how a lottery would provide the necessary incentives to become an informed voter.

Then again, I wouldn't mind a shot at a million bucks for doing what I do anyway. ;)

Good thing or not?

[pinto]

1. Nah. Good intention, bad idea, imo.

[Avalux]

2. I heard the interview also -

He's a Democrat, and I can't remember which state. I think it's a great idea to give people incentive to vote - he said he thought of it because all the efforts that go towards GOTV just don't seem to have much impact. Concern about people voting by name recognition is justifiable, but grassroots efforts could help to impact that via candidate literature before the election.

I think overall, it's a good thing. Now if only we could get a National Voting Holiday for general elections......

[KansDem]

3. Well, I'm sure the folks at Diebold would love to have the chance...

...to win $1,000,000 and give the election to Republicans.

Until we go to strictly paper ballots and a tamper-proof system, throwing a million dollars into the mix would not bode well for an already defective system.

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. Funny, that was my first thought.

I can just see a Bush, Baker or some other neocon dynasty winning each "random" lottery.

[KansDem]

10. "Why, we NEVER win ANYTHING...!!!"

Says a jubilant Barbara and Jena Bush when presented with the lottery's over-sized, symbolic check.



"Who'd you vote for?" asked the lottery spokeswoman, Gladys Carbuncle, when presenting the check to the twins. "Oh, (tee-hee) this is America; our vote is private!" giggled America's newest millionaires

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. ROTFL! In a sick sort of way.

[MADem]

4. I think it is New Zealand that fines people 39 bucks or so for NOT voting

Unless you have a note from the doctor!

[roguevalley]

8. I hate the idea. Fine them. Good on New Zealand. People who

don't vote should pay double taxes. that should take care of the problem.

[Skink]

Do we have to buy voting tickets?

[Skink]

5. Do we have to buy voting tickets?

[Shipwack]

7. I have an alternative...

How about taking that million dollars and putting it toward making election day a state (or even better, Federal) holiday?

That makes many problems (long lines, late starts, etc) less impacting, and takes away the right wing whine that election days are unfair because "unemployed people" can vote more easily than people with jobs... :eyes:

[Pacifist Patriot]

12. I agree. I cannot fathom why election day is not a holiday.

[alfredo]

9. The polls would be flooded with more uninformed voters

than we see now. Good intentions, but not well thought out.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Whatever works ..... sorta

The question for me is: Who will this attract to the voting booth?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2646695

[Pacifist Patriot]

14. *sigh* Did you see my response to you in that thread?

Precisely my fear. :toast: