Williamsburg, Brooklyn – New York Election Law § 17-142 states that any person who “offers or promises to pay, lend or contribute any money or other valuable consideration to induce such voter or other person to vote or refrain from voting at any election” is guilty of a felony. That being said, South Williamsburg voters at IS 71 were able to get a chance to win $250 cash prizes and gift certificates – all they had to do was cast a ballot.
A 16-year-old who said he was being paid $350 to man a booth a little more than 100 feet from the polling station at IS 71 said that families received this card in the mail before the election. The card promises entry into a raffle boasting $250 cash prizes and gift certificates when presented to a worker after voting. You could also pick up one of the special cards from a van sitting outside the polling station.
A closeup of the card (Gothamist)
Another worker said that the United Jewish Organizations was sponsoring the raffle and said that voters were given literature suggesting that they vote the UJO’s candidates, but that it’s not mandatory.
“They just give out a name for who to vote for, it’s not like you have to vote for them, they can do whatever they want,” said the man, who declined to give his name. “We just want to get people to come out. It’s basically an idea to get people out of their homes and out of their job, because if not they’re gonna stay at home.”
Who did the UJC seemingly endorse? According to the literature taped to the table: Bill Thompson for mayor, Stephen Levin for councilmember, Scott Stringer for Comptroller, Daniel Squadron for Public Advocate and Charles Hynes for Brooklyn DA.
The 16-year-old at the table said that the voters handed him cards because “They agreed to vote for Hynes.” At least five of these tables were at other voting locations in Williamsburg.
In an email, UJO leader Rabbi David Niederman, writes, “The UJO is a 501(c)(3) organization barred from intervening on behalf of or against any candidate for public office. UJO is not involved in the get out the vote operation and no one is authorized to use our name for such purposes.”
Asked why the man said that he was working for his organization, Rabbi Niederman responded, “UJO or myself hasn’t hired or asked anyone to get involved in the get out the vote operation. As I mentioned previously, we are not involved in get out the vote operations whatsoever. To the best of my recollection 2006 was the last time that happened.”
More at GOTHAMIST
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
They didn’t have to vote, they had to give the card to the booth near the polling station. They didn’t have to step foot in there.
Regardless it’s illegal it’s called. Buying votes
Have you ever seen a sweepstakes that says “no purchase necessary” and then goes on to tell you how you can enter without buying anything from them? Well, this is similar except they didn’t add the useless fine print. Nobody actually has to vote or vote for the endorsed candidates to be able to enter the raffle.