Saturday, August 23, 2014

Cash Prizes ... FOR VOTING?

The Los Angeles government might soon offer an unconventional incentive for people to vote: cold hard cash.
At least, that's an option being floated by city officials desperate to boost what one called a "truly depressing" voter turnout in local elections. Last Thursday, the city's Ethics Commission voted to recommend that the Los Angeles City Council explore creating a drawing for a cash prize for anyone who casts a ballot.
"I think that this idea addresses a crisis for which I don't have any other short-term solutions," Ethics Commission President Nathan Hochman told FoxNews.com.
But the plan is running into some serious criticism.
"It's an affront to democracy," California attorney Troy Slaten told Fox News on Wednesday, voicing concern that the plan would attract people who may know nothing about the candidates, looking only for a cash payout.
According to the Los Angeles Times, only 23.3 percent of the city's 1.8 million registered voters cast ballots in the Los Angeles mayoral election in 2013, the lowest turnout in more than 100 years. That election was also the city's costliest since 2001, with more than $55 million spent by the candidates alone.
Ethics commissioners decided to think "outside the box" in considering ways to boost turnout. Commission Vice President Jessica Levinson told FoxNews.com she was skeptical of the lottery idea at first -- she said it's "depressing" that bribing voters is even being considered.
Read the rest of the story HERE and view a related video below:



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