LINCOLN SQUARE — With voter turnout in the U.S. perennially among the lowest in the developed world, encouraging folks to participate in democracy might seem like a good idea, but it's illegal, election officials warned.
Businesses considering providing discounts, freebies or other deals to people who produce an "I Voted" wristband on Nov. 8 take note: "It is against the law to offer anything 'of value' as an enticement or reward for either registering or voting," Jim Allen, spokesman for the Chicago Board of Elections, told DNAinfo via email.
The ban applies to anyone and everyone, not just candidates or their campaigns.
The satisfaction of casting a ballot is going to have to be reward enough. Or voters can treat themselves to Election Cake.
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