Please Don't Feed the Voters, Law Says

WXIA/Atlanta - 11 Alive News ^ | 7.23.02

[mhking]

Please Don't Feed the Voters, Law Says

Provided By: The Associated Press
Last Modified: 7/23/2002 11:52:43 AM

ATLANTA (AP) -- Atlanta city employees came up with what they thought was a good idea to convince people to register to vote by Monday's deadline -- give away free food.

They signed up 134 co-workers and other new voters by giving away 600 sandwiches and about 30 dozen doughnuts, unaware that they may have violated state election law.

"We thought we were performing a ... service," said Sandra Walker, spokeswoman for Mayor Shirley Franklin. "It is important for people to understand the political process and the opportunity afforded them to vote."

Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox said state law prohibits giving "anything of value" in exchange for registering to vote or voting. Cox's office called city officials Monday and told them not to do it again.

"People mean well," Cox said.

Walker said anyone who asked for food was given some, though a news release said "lunch will be provided for employees who bring a voter registration card or register to vote on site."

Voters who registered Monday are eligible to vote in the Aug. 20 Republican and Democratic primaries. Those who register afterward will have to wait until the Nov. 5 general election.

Last week, the state had 4.62 million registered voters, up from 4.56 million last year.

[mhking]

Now if it had been the GOP that did this, the Dems would have wanted an investigation and accused the GOP of all sorts of dirty dealing. But with Democrats feeding the homeless in exchange for their votes and a Democratic Secretary of State, it's basically swept under the rug...

Just damn.

[Zon]

Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox said state law prohibits giving "anything of value" in exchange for registering to vote or voting.

LOL!! Meanwhile campaigners are out offering all sorts of values people will gain if you vote for my candidate and they win. Yeah right, like there's any benefit I'll gain from voting for the lesser of evils. For evil still begets evil.

[thegreatbeast]

Free eats and drinks is part of the fabric of the voting experience here in America (and probably Europe as well). I guess the trouble here is the fact that you have the state providing the goodies and that is objectionable.
Unfortunately, I have arrived at a point where I think we should test people in English on American History before allowing them to vote.

[apackof2]

How sad that people have to seduced by food to vote!

[Tourist Guy]

Nah, they offered the "eligible" (mostly high school kids +18 yoa/parents) a free slice of pizza to vote last May.
Ruled okey-dokey by the local judge since they didn't specify "what" you had to vote for to qualify...it actually was incentive to vote for a new school bond issue ['passed' -SURPRISE SUPRISE].

Anchovies anyone?

[Movemout]

I think the origin of these laws has to do with an older practice of rounding up the men on election day and taking them down to the local watering hole for a few rounds and then asking them to express their thanks by getting a ride down to the polls and voting. This is also the reason that bars in some states are closed until the polls are closed.

[Jack Wilson]

Why would you want to convince someone to vote?

[nothingnew]

How sad that people have to seduced by food to vote!

No kidding!...Now make that a sixer of Busch and a halfer of Jose' and I'd...oops, wrong thread, I thought it was FRiday in The Smokers Lounge...Sorry.

FMCDH

[strela]

Wisconsin Democrats tried handing out free cigarettes to the homeless in 2000 to get them to vote. I don't doubt that handing out ham sandwiches would be looked down upon as well.

[MissAmericanPie]

Yes, your right, all they have to do is plead ignorance and they are off the hook.

[Ohioan]

Why would you want to convince someone to vote?

The reason that providing free food or beverages to voters is illegal is partly because of just the oppositie idea. Some of us might just throw a picnic outside of town for certain neighborhoods, as a lure away from the polls.

The idea of convincing someone whose views are not known to me to vote, just to vote, has no appeal whatsoever. Counting noses does not establish virtue.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[George W. Bush]

Pshaw. Looks like they'll have to cancel the orders for those new voting machines that dispense food, alcohol, cigarettes and Green Cards for anyone that votes the straight Democrat ticket.