Finally, 1 million really good reasons to get out and vote
Published: June 12, 2005
I have a million really good reasons for 100 percent of us to vote in 2006, but before I tell you what they are, we should dispense with the holier-than-thou notion that using money as an incentive to get citizens to participate in a democracy is a disgrace and an abomination.
If former gubernatorial candidate Mark Osterloh has his way, one lucky voter in the 2006 general election will become a millionaire. A group called Arizonans for Voter Rewards is collecting signatures to have the initiative placed on the ballot. If approved, the new law would “establish a voter reward random drawing every two years with a first prize of one million dollars or more.”
As far as I’m concerned, such a program would only be a disgrace and an abomination if I did not personally win the million.
Osterloh tried this idea in 2003 but failed. This time he claims to have the financial backing needed to get the 122,612 valid signatures to make the ballot.
Even better, he said that the new law would apply to the very election in which it is decided. In other words, if the voters of Arizona approve it in 2006, then one of them will become an instant millionaire.
Me, preferably.
But only if opponents don’t convince conscientious citizens that such a program is undignified and would encourage people to vote for “the wrong reasons.”
Heck, a survey of our elected officials easily proves that the majority of those who vote in our lovely state already go to the polls for the wrong reasons.
“We spend millions of dollars every year on failed ‘Get Out the Vote’ drives,” Osterloh said. “Here we can spend one million and get everybody.”
He said that those wanting to sign initiative petitions should look for signature collectors at local libraries or state Motor Vehicle Division offices. Or they can contact the group at P.O. Box 35037, Tucson, AZ 85740. Petitions don’t have to be turned in to the secretary of state until July 6, 2006.
But what of those who say that voting is an honor, a privilege and a duty? I asked.
“I’m not trying to create saints,” Osterloh said. “I’m trying to create voters. I’m not trying to create the perfect patriot; I’m trying to get people to the polls. When you do that, you get closer to what democracy is supposed to be about.”
More than 2 million Arizonans voted in the last presidential election, a record 77 percent of eligible voters. Osterloh says that his plan will create more new voters and bring out even more of those who already are registered.
Each of us won the lottery when we were born in the United States, of course. We are the grand-prize winners in an international DNA lottery. The children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who risked everything to come to America. In a perfect world, that would be more than enough incentive for anyone to vote. But it turns out that the United States, while great, is not part of a perfect world.
The prize money and administrative costs for the drawing would be taken from unclaimed state lottery winnings under the initiative’s plan.
The lottery itself would hold the drawing, Osterloh said, adding, “They have the expertise. It’s simple and effective.”
Osterloh also doesn’t expect the federal government to try to prevent the law from taking effect because, he said, “It isn’t buying or selling votes. We could care less about party affiliation or philosophy. There are no exclusions, no discrimination.”
As we all know, the only Americans currently in a position to accept large amounts of cash in exchange for votes are politicians. Why should they have all the fun?
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