Comments on: L.A. considers lottery prizes for voters who turn out on Election Day

By: Aric

Aric — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 19:47:56 +0000

I don’t know how it works in California, but in my state, you can’t claim a lottery prize over $600 without photo ID.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 19:46:47 +0000

I vote but feel I am gambling then too. Which candidate will do the most good and the least harm? At least with the lottery, you know the odds.

By: Wfjag

Wfjag — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 12:18:10 +0000

Growing up in what would now be called a “Blue State”, I thought that paying people to vote was a normal part of a GOTV (“Get Out The Vote”) effort.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 04:58:13 +0000

It’s also a way to appeal to particular demographics: the poor and uneducated.

Wealthier people and better-educated people have little interest in lottery tickets.

By: Roman

Roman — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 00:28:45 +0000

The left has been in charge of education for a couple of generations now. Perhaps if they would teach better citizenship, we would not need to bribe people to vote.

By: C

Sun, 24 Aug 2014 00:04:34 +0000

If someone doesn’t care enough about the system to vote, then I don’t want them voting. Turnout is meaningless if it’s a bunch of people who aren’t familiar with the issues and candidates.

By: Hugo S. Cunningjam

Hugo S. Cunningjam — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 20:42:43 +0000

As a US census worker from time to time, I supported such an approach to encourage participation in the census, especially to complete the bothersome long forms.

But for voting, I share the skeptical view– we shouldn’t dilute the electorate more than necessarily with the frivolous and exclusively mercenary.

By: ras

ras — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 16:23:00 +0000

And when a disproportionate percentage of the lottery winners are white males…?