Voting lottery - is this legal?

[trof]

Idea from a city council campaign I'm working on.
A week or so before the election, mail out a post card with candidate's photo, quals, platform, etc., to each registered voter in the district.

Cards would be numbered.
Set up a manned table with a box in the parking lot of the only polling place (city hall).
After someone votes, they can drop their card in the box.
There would have to be an identically numbered tear-off tab for their 'receipt'.
Even simpler would be to just keep a list of names and numbers.
After the polls close we pull one card and the winner gets $50.
The thinking is that this would help get out the vote in that particular district.
Doesn't matter which district candidate you voted for. If you have a card, you can enter.
What do you think?

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. That depends on state and local law

Washington (the only set of laws I'm familiar with) have a number of statutes which define what is and is not a valid ballot. Technically, counties and states can have different criteria, but generally they have a single law stating adherence to state standards, for the simple reason that this allows them to use the same ballots used in state races.

I think it is a good idea, but if there are several candidates, it would probably be a lot cheaper to use a more traditional "check the box next to your choice" ballot.

[trof]

2. This would not replace ballot.

There are only 2 candidates.

[mikelgb]

3. if it was all candidates on the card and was objective

i think it would be good

but not if it is just one candidate

not sure about the legalities of either

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Ah, ok. No, I don't think this would be legal

Most states have very, very strict laws against rewarding voters who show up at the polls. It becomes too easy to manipulate the vote ("Maggie told me that Candidate X will get fewer votes, so if I vote for him I will increase my chances of winning.") Basically, any kind of voter reward or remuneration is prohibited.

[flashl]

5. Maybe this post from election forum can help ...

Beware of political raffles

Published on July 23, 2008
by Michael Schrimpf

Earlier this month, we told you about a raffle being conducted by Barack Obama's presidential campaign that may violate Minnesota's gambling laws.

Well, it seems that Minnesota is not the only state that restricts the ability of political campaigns to use raffles as fundraisers. Florida Today details a county commission candidate who ran afoul of the law by raising $354 in $1 tickets.

Similarly, "Jason Steele, who is running for the Florida House seat now held by Mitch Needelman, held what his Web site called 'art raffles' for donated artwork in June at the home of an Indialantic town councilwoman. It raised about $7,000."

Florida law only permits raffles that benefit charities and non-profits, to which Steele replied, ""A political candidate is considered a charitable organization, according to my consultants. We ran it up the pole to everyone's mother, brother, sister." Besides, "It really was an art giveaway," Steele said. "I looked at the statute and consulted with my campaign people. An art giveaway is not a raffle. We did not charge any money for the tickets. It was suggested."

Campaign Freedom