ST Alpha - "ST Poll. LA City Council considering $50,000 jackpot to encourage people to vote. Question:" (Reading a Post)

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ST Poll. LA City Council considering $50,000 jackpot to encourage people to vote. Question:

Posted by con_carne Aug 15 '14, 12:20

Are you more A or B?

A = Any way to encourage voting is good. Voter turnout is low, which means terrible candidates could win primaries, elections, etc.

B = This is a terrible idea. This is not what our democracy was founded on OR that is completely the wrong reason why people should vote OR this is a recipe for disaster and a quick way to get terrible candidates to win elections. Ill considered things could win out because people are too concerned with the jackpot and not real issues. People could just vote for BS blindly just to get their names entered into the jackpot.

Let's say for the sake of argument this idea is to fix a perceived problem of low voter turnout. Thoughts? Has this been tried elsewhere?

http://laist.com/2014/08/15/la_city_council_considers_whether_a.php (laist.com)

Responses:

Terrible candidates get in *now* without an voting incentive. A. -- nm - Reagen Aug 15, 12:27 1
- For me, the problem here is more - con_carne Aug 15, 12:35
I'm leaning towards A. People vote for all sorts of stupid, ill-informed reasons anyway -- nm - Roger More Aug 15, 12:27
I don't think it's a *terrible* idea; it's just kind of sad. -- nm - mara Aug 15, 12:27
Heard that last night....A. - Meg Aug 15, 12:26
b -- nm - peglegpete Aug 15, 12:26
i can't really see a problem, doesn't Australia fine you if you *don't* vote? - Andie Aug 15, 12:25 5
- I find myself leaning toward this option. And also for forgetting e-voting and sticking with paper ballots. -- nm - Beryllium Aug 15, 12:37
- Yes - though the fine is only $120ish and it's rarely enforced. -- nm - Roger More Aug 15, 12:26 3
  - interesting - under what circumstances *do* they enforce it? -- nm - Andie Aug 15, 12:32 2
    - I expect if the non-voter is being a jerk about it. Let me see. -- nm - Roger More Aug 15, 12:33 1
      - OK, so what happens is that if you don't vote you're sent a letter asking "why not?" - Roger More Aug 15, 12:38
B -- nm - Ender Aug 15, 12:24
leaning towards A. -- nm - znufrii Aug 15, 12:24
B -- nm - Strongbad Aug 15, 12:24
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ST Poll. LA City Council considering $50,000 jackpot to encourage people to vote. Question:

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