Our Opinion: A creative, but misguided, proposal

News Tribune editorial

When we urge more eligible voters to go to the polls, we are encouraging greater turnout among informed voters.

Low voter turnout is a problem experienced by states and localities throughout the nation. Most recently, we lamented low voter turnout - less than 25 percent - is Missouri's August primary.

According to a news item in Saturday's News Tribune, the city of Los Angeles has proposed a solution - a voters' lottery.

According to the report: "With fewer than a fourth of voters showing up for recent local elections, the city's Ethics Commission voted to recommend that the City Council consider a cash-prize drawing as an incentive to vote."

The concept - cast a ballot and become eligible to win a prize - is far from finalized, but neither is it being dismissed outright.

"I can't wait to have this conversation," said Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson.

Our reaction has two components.

First, when it comes to solving the problem of low voter turnout, we encouraging creative thinking. This proposal certainly qualifies as an outside-the-box approach.

Second, as much as we appreciate the imaginative recommendation, this is a bad idea.

Why? Because it encourages uninformed voting, which arguably is more dangerous to democracy than poor turnout.

People must vote because they care about the present policies and future direction of local, state and national governing bodies. If they care, they will become informed about the candidates and issues.

And, becoming informed means sorting through the respective campaign spin offered by political parties, special interests and ballot issue proponents and opponents.

Low voter turnout is a problem.

Increasing turnout by attracting uninformed, self-serving prize-seekers is no solution.