Why not just give every voter a $5 tax credit? Just because a poll tax is unconstitutional doesn't mean a poll credit would be.

Australia, meanwhile, has a "non-voter fine," which I suppose is somewhat similar conceptually.

Why not tote up the votes cast according to precinct, town, county, or whatever, compare same to the number of citizens (or persons, a significant distinction) of voting age in each jurisdiction, then allocate tax dollars accordingly? Precincts, towns, counties, as the case may be, that have big voter turnout get a larger claim on tax collections than jurisdictions that neglect to participate in the democratic process. Assuming an impartial count, that would be quite the incentive.

NOW posted at http://vote2win.blogspot.com
And
http://sourcecode.freespeech.org/submission:
And
http://www.sinceslicedbread.com/idea/2101

Vote2Win Campaign may turbocharge voter registration & paper trails

See the Vote2Win Campaign info below on a proposal which could be implemented on a nationwide scale that would let citizens register for a similar contest on the honor system once they register to vote and once they vote. It could also promote audit trails for all electronic voting and WOULD NOT REQIRE A NEW LAW or A REFERENDUM.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12938379/ - 5/23/06

PHOENIX - An Arizona political activist is placing his bets that a proposal to pay one lucky voter $1 million will drive people to the polls.
Dr. Mark Osterloh, a Tuscon ophthalmologist who has run unsuccessfully for governor and the legislature, filed paperwork Monday to put the idea before state voters on the 2006 ballot.
"Who do you know that doesn't want to be a millionaire? What's the worst thing that could happen? Everybody who's eligible to vote could be voting," he said.

>Would you, your company, organization, or group like to be a founding sponsor for a get-out-the-vote campaign that could be the biggest step Americans have taken towards true democracy in decades?
>And synchronize the efforts of Vote or Die and other groups and at the same time put constant pressure on all states to provide paper trails for all votes.
>I am waiting to hear back from Rainbow-Push, Air America Radio, and Badboy Productions and their Vote or die division and others. I truly believe that this could be the answer to all of our problems, both political and scientific. I do believe that the domain "Vote2Win.org is still available. Can you help me get the word out?
>I would like to see this type of Press Release ASAP as we move to get more citizens to register and vote and to provide paper trails for all votes cast next year.
>Citizen Change, a non-profit, non-partisan organization started in July, 2004, by entertainment mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs in order to encourage young people to participate in the 2004 presidential election process, launched its new and improved model for 2005. The Vote or Die campaign successfully helped register millions of new voters. Being the latest recipient of an “Extreme Makeover,” it will morph into a turbo-charged phase two entitled: “Vote2Win.” This could be the sequel with no equal. The first of several new public service announcements (PSA) will show Vote or die shirts and clothing being removed to reveal tattoos and/or undershirts displaying the new Vote2Win logo. (Combs and/or others) stated that with help of MTV, Air America Radio, the Nation Magazine, Rainbow-Push, and yes even AARP and the Fox Network, this movement could be one small step for Americans and one giant leap for America. This could be the biggest step this nation has taken toward universal true democracy since 1976. The change from a somewhat negative self-defeating logo to a more positive proactive approach will help to emphasize the fact that “all” Americans will win if we all register and vote. We are not just proud to be an American, we are proud to “act” like an American.
>The goal of Vote2win is to get corporations, organizations, and celebrities to donate prizes to be given away after the 2005 general election. The items could have limited costs to the donors but could greatly improve their public image. Who would not want to participate in a campaign to get all citizens to vote? What voter would not want to win dinner with Steve Martin, or an autographed book from Steven King, a cameo appearance on the Daily Show or perhaps on the West Wing or SNL, or how about playing a criminal or a victim on CSI? Citizens who vote in the next election would use the control number from their election machine receipt to register by mail or on a Web site after they vote and be entered in a fun, inspiring Vote2Win sweepstakes. Besides encouraging all Americans to register and vote, the campaign would put ongoing pressure on all localities to adopt voting systems with paper trails. It does not make any sense that ATM and lottery systems have processed trillions of transactions worldwide for decades and been accurate to the penny and Americans still do not have a voting process is just as accurate and open to audits. Having a more reliable election system would encourage even more people to vote and accept the outcome. We plan to replace the Red and Blue map of America with an Orange and Green map. Orange will be used to identify those counties that do not have paper trails on at least 90% of their voting machines and Green will be used for those counties that have met the 90% goal.
>The campaign hopes to grow into a cross-generational, gross-gender, and cross-political movement by reaching out to such divergent groups as AARP, Churches, Native Americans, etc. Future initiatives for Vote2Win include:
>PSA’s like:
>Steve Martin dancing around voting booths set up at patriotic locations singing. “Act like an American.”
>“We are the World”-like music video based on patriotic songs and speeches and with a chorus based on President Lincoln’s words, “a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” An appearance in next year’s music video could be one of the prizes for the sweepstakes.
>Serious PSA: Our friends, neighbors and relatives are dying in a war right now to protect our freedom to vote and express our opinions. What can we say to the wounded soldiers or the family members of those killed on the battlefield in an attempt to explain why we did not make the minimal effort to register to vote. We must not let our loved ones die in vain. Only 55% of eligible voters actually voted. What if only 55% of our soldiers showed up to defend our freedom? What if our soldiers showed up for battle and were only 55% ready? This could be accomplished by an American walking from left to right across the screen with an ever changing or morphing backdrop of small town or city. He walks right by the local election board that has a banner across the building stating that today is the last day people can register and vote. The background morphs to the front of a Veteran’s hospital with several disabled veterans sitting out front in wheelchairs and bandages. The final morph shows the American walking past a Veteran’s cemetery with a family in the background laying flowers on a grave.
>“Participate or Vegetate” by the Veggie Tales. (Patterned after the “no Smoking” campaign that encouraged children to ask their parent to stop smoking.) Daddy, did you vote this year? Mommy, did you register to vote this year? Coordinated with PSA by Schoolhouse Rock, if possible, patterned after “How a bill becomes a law. How a democracy becomes truly free.
>Pictures of people in lines at ATMs and Lottery machines in heavily populated areas, juxtaposed against scenes of voting booths in with no humans around in desolate landscapes like deserts, etc.
>(With their permission) Animation of the PIXAR logo with the word Whiner spelled with the “h” formed by the PIXAR lamp with the bulb turned off. The electrical cord is connected to a voting booth. We hear the footsteps of an American voter as he/she walks up to the booth and pulls the lever, which turns the lamp on. Then lamp hops around and lands next to the “n” and forms another “n” to form the word “winner.” Voice-over says, “We all must let our light shine. Register. Vote. Win.
>The buck stops here – show a picture of the White House. And the buck starts here – show a picture of a voting booth.
>Shots of voters at voting booths at various locations across the country saying as they pull the lever, "Can you hear me now."
>Put Vote2Win messages at the beginning of DVD's and video games about registering to vote and giving an 800# and web site in the style of the anti-drug messages posted by the FBI.
>The Daily Show with John Stewart could begin their "Election 2004 1/2" segments to monitor the progress in solving the voting problems.
>Encourage toys of democracy instead of toys of war, voting or election board games and RPG software and perhaps, the "Voting" Barbie.
>Paper receipt for voting, don’t leave the booth without it – like American Express Ad.
>Song: Paper trails to you until we vote again.
>Possible sweepstake prizes:
>Getting to say: “Live from New York, It’s Saturday night” on SNL.
>Please let me know if you would like to be involved.
>Middle-Aged, Middle-of-the-road, Mid-Westerner.
PS: I think the Dr.'s plan is working just fine. Look how many people are talking about the voting process. Let's forget the fact that both of us worry that someone not quite as smart as us might go and vote. Everyone one should be encouraged to vote. We rejoice when most of the citizens in a third world country vote when many of them have no education at all. Look closely at my suggestion. It is on the honor system. The real goal is to stimulate discussion and use the thrill of a lottery as a springboard to capture attention and educate voters on the candidates and the issues. Corporate America and the upper class certainly have learned that they have an economic stake in the outcome of elections. Look at the enormous amount of money spent on lobbying and campaign donations. The contest really a minor part of what we hope to accomplish. We need to educate, stimulate all citizens and get them to realize they all have an economic and moral stake in the outcome of elections. I know voting can sometimes be tedious, confusing, and at times hopeless. But there is no reason it can't be fun. Let's encourage a democracy of ideas.

Why not just theorize about monetary incentives for voting? Heaving all these more narrowly targeted nonmonetary incentives into the mix is ill conceived. Electing someone President merely because they might moon the Nation at their inauguration (the logical extension of Tim's proposal, with respect) is an enormously bad idea. Encouraging people to vote with the possibility of getting some hard cash at least doesn't contaminate the process with questions whether Jennifer's or Angelina's butt is more democratic. Money is uniform; butts are not.

Thanks Jake.
I needed that. Why not give them a choice. No reason we can't use both. The non-monetary prizes might be more interesting to advetise and get more types of people interested. But we could always let them take cash instead. The idea is to keep people interested and educate and inspire all voters.

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