I thought the original idea was not to give people for their vote on a particular candidate or issue. People can say, "I voted" and have no proof if they did or they didn't since they are not doing that at the polls. They also aren't saying You get this free if you voted for _insert name of the candidate they want you to vote for_. Oh, you voted for _insert candidate name_ - no free stuff for you.
Tomorrow is Election Day, the famous American Holiday in which people are not given a day off of work but are still expected to wait in lengthy lines outside elementary schools during business hours in order to have their provisional ballots thrown away or watch their electronic voting machines helpfully select the Constitution Party candidate. Yes, voting is hard, and seldom worth it. Which is why civic-minded companies are giving people prizes for voting! A voter an receive a free cup of coffee from Starbucks, a free donut from Krispy Kreme, and free ice cream from Ben & Jerry's if they show up and tell them they voted. It's a great, fun way to boost turnout, and it's probably totally illegal!
The laws do vary from state to state, but for elections to federal office, our Congress is clear:
Codifying the ban on voter bribery, the United States Congress has prohibited the conspiracy to encourage illegal voting and stated that anyone who "pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."
And that's not just cash for votes that's outlawed there! "Not only is a direct payment for a vote prohibited, but any other 'valuable thing, to or for the use of another.'" Like delicious ice cream, which is very valuable.
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Ok now watch this classic music video Election Day by Arcadia:click here to view.
- The Mountain Cat
posted by The Mountain Cat at 1:05 PM on Nov 4, 2008
2 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formOk. I take up the suit against them once I get my free coffee and ice cream.
November 4, 2008 at 2:54 PM
I thought the original idea was not to give people for their vote on a particular candidate or issue. People can say, "I voted" and have no proof if they did or they didn't since they are not doing that at the polls. They also aren't saying You get this free if you voted for _insert name of the candidate they want you to vote for_. Oh, you voted for _insert candidate name_ - no free stuff for you.
November 4, 2008 at 4:07 PM