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Voting Plus Lottery Equals Voter Turnout?

Posted by michael on from the you-never-know dept.

qmark_is_mysterious writes "Fortune magazine has a interesting article on how it could be possible to increase voter turnout to 100% by making your vote an entry to a national lottery. By offering a prizes of up to $10 million dollars it's hoped that many people who feel disenfranchised will be motivated to go vote and express their opinion. A group in Arizona is trying to get an initiative on the 2006 ballot to get this implemented in that state. Do you think offering cash prizes will make elections more popular and effective?"

4 of 220 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting stuff by BaldGhoti · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is like the opposite of a poll tax, which was declared unconstitutional (IIRC).

    I am, however, looking forward to Joe Schmoe yelling, "I WON THE ELECTION!" when he hits the payoff. :)

    --
    [insert witty sig here]
  2. At least ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    it's an improvement on this campaign.

  3. Re:Do you really want them to vote? by stanmann · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ok, you missed the sarcasm tags, the post dripped and oozed sarcasm, I almost hurt myself slipping in the puddle of sarcasm oozing from that post.

    the GP post was attempting to make the point that we already have civics classes nationwide and it doesn't appear to have any impact on students.

    --
    Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
  4. Re:money comes from... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    socio-economic class that largely funds state lottery systems is more likely to be Democratic.

    and
    The Lottery is a tax on stupidity


    That is an interesting though on the average democrat