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Voters should be offered free burgers to tempt them out to vote
Last updated at 19:37pm on 11.12.07Voters should be offered council tax discounts or fast food vouchers to persuade them to turn up at the polls, according to a report.
A group of councillors is calling for 'incentives' to vote.
Other perks suggested in the report from the Labourdominated Councillors' Commission include free National Lottery tickets and trips to the chiropractor.
The report, commissioned by Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears, also suggests lowering the voting age to 16 and allowing sixth-formers to stand in local elections.
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Burger bounce: A group of councillors is calling for 'incentives' to vote
As reported in yesterday's Daily Mail, it calls for councillors who lose their seats to receive 'parachute payments' from taxpayers.
Ministers are concerned about falling turnouts, with only around three in five voters bothering to turn out for the last two general elections. At local elections only about 25 per cent of the electorate turns out in many areas.
The commission says: 'We propose that where councils think it valuable to try to engage the electorate by offering an incentive to vote - perhaps by offering a chance to enter a lottery - they should be able to do so.
'The commission discussed the case for compulsory voting but settled on recommending the option of an incentive instead.'
The report highlighted two schemes in California in which voters were offered free doughnuts and trips to a chiropractor or a coupon for free chicken dinners.
Another idea raised by the commission was a modest council tax discount. Cabinet Minister Geoff Hoon has spoken in favour of this plan.
The report also calls for the voting age to be reduced from 18 to 16. The Isle Of Man lowered its voting age to 16 last year.
The report goes on: ' Allowing young people the chance of voting at 16 would give them a personal stake in citizenshipat a time when they were studying the subject at school. We believe, however, that young people will be more likely to vote if they have been persuaded of its importance and have ownership of that chance.
'If people start voting young they are more likely to continue doing so; we are convinced that many would exercise the chance to vote.'
They point to the election of a 'young mayor' by 11 to 18-year- olds in Lewisham, South-East London.
The turnout was 45 per cent - well above the 34 per cent for the adult mayoral election in the borough.
Mrs Blears said she was not convinced handing out doughnuts was the best way forward.
But she added: 'I welcome further debate about whether we should build a system of incentives to encourage people to vote in local elections.'
Reader views (17)
Perhaps if they were offered a government that had a policy of reducing taxes, immigration, red tape, handouts and sleaze, whilst increasing prison sizes, personal allowances and care for the elderly we all might actually be tempted to vote. Unless you are on handouts, an immigrant, a law breaker or have a pointless job in a quango that is (mmmmm what percentage of the Labour vote is that I wonder?).
- Andy, Surrey, 11/12/2007 17:13
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In response to Suzanne, London, I find it very hard to believe that your polling station opens after you have left for work and closes before you get home. If this is true you must have one of the longest working days in the country and if that is the case it is against the law to work those hours.
- David Hall-Kitemaker, London, UK, 11/12/2007 15:44
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This should help with the obese problem we have then.
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK, 11/12/2007 15:38
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If Gordon calls an election now there is little chance of voter apathy.
- Bj, London, England, 11/12/2007 15:36
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Cash for Honours, Secret Labour Donors now Bribe to Vote :What on earth next.
Labour is determined to destroy this once great country.
- Curtis.L, Woodford Green: UK, 11/12/2007 15:19
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Nu Labour is at it again. What utter rubbish. If people can't be bothered to vote, they should not have a vote!
- Bill, London, 11/12/2007 15:11
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Council charge discounts? This would be grossly unfair to the many workers - North and South Americans and many others - who are not eligible to vote here but still have to pay the extortionate council charge.
- J Court, London, 11/12/2007 13:36
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If we moved away from professional politicians and the pressure on MPs to follow the whip (else potentially lose their job) so that all parliamentary votes were free, then there may be some value in voting. Currently, most people believe that they are voting for the PM and not an MP with a genuine voice.
It is even worse with councils where the only interaction most people have is when they are fined for leaving their refuse out on the wrong day or in the wrong coloured bin or bag. This leads to a total contempt of the system and the level of voting reflects this.
- Graham, Reading, England, 11/12/2007 13:32
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I'm not sure the burger idea sits comfortably alongside government suggestions that anyone weighing more than about two stones is overweight. To be rather more practical, I've had two problems with voting in recent years: that my local polling station opened after I left for work and closed before I arrived home and that there were no candidates worthy of my vote.
- Suzanne, London, 11/12/2007 13:11
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When people say, 'none of the above', they mean, 'I can't be bothered to read election material and make an informed decision'. There are always good politicians in every election, if people actually made an effort to understand what local politicians are working on and their values we'd have a more productive political system: rather than allowing the cynical nonsense published above.
- Mike, London, 11/12/2007 12:52
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This latest farce epitomises all things this country has become. A bunch of lazy chavs who have to be lured out of their council houses with the option of a free BURGER. Not anything remotely healthy. Oh no, a burger. Yes that's about right. Chow down Vicky.
Take note Brown-o... The only thing getting me to the polls to put my tick in the box will be if you added a "None of the Above" option as pointed out by Roz. And even then I can't guarantee attendance. The few lines noted by Jean might swing it, though. Except you'd need a hell of a lot of lines. Ten pages should do it.
- Jay, London, UK, 11/12/2007 12:43
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Isn't that discriminating against vegetarian voters? Stick that in your burger and eat it ...
- Marianne, SW France, 11/12/2007 12:41
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Bring in the ‘none of the above’ box.
Only allow elections to be sponsored/funded by people in the area were potential representatives are located. Bring back a representative parliament, which really means bringing back democracy and most of us will vote without prompting.
Democracy usually means government by the people for the people. Being allowed to vote for a political party appointee, is voting for someone that supports their party and their party leader, but does not mean they support your community, your country or represent their electorate.
- Ian, Reading UK, 11/12/2007 12:39
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I really don't like the idea of allowing 16 year olds to vote this is pure idiocy. Roz of Chamonix said they pay income tax but the government has plans to make everyone stay at school until they are 18.
I think the best thing to do would be if someone was not going to vote the vote should go to someone. I would like that idea very much.
- David Hall-Kitemaker, London, UK, 11/12/2007 12:00
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Great idea...junk food and scratchcards for votes...why not go the whole hog and hand out cigarettes and cheap lager to voters? I absolutely despair at this country sometimes. Instead of leading people to aspire, educate and better themselves, Labour councillors seek to bring us down to the lowest common denominator. This is shameful and embarrassing.
And does the idiotic Hazel Blears seriously expect educated adult voters to elect a sixth-former to make and enforce policy decisions?
- Mark, London, 11/12/2007 10:35
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I agree, we definitely need a 'None of the above' option and how about space for a few lines so that we can let them know why?
- Jean, London, 11/12/2007 10:25
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So now it's OK to bribe people to vote?
As 16 year olds have to pay Income Tax it's only fair they get to vote on who spends it - but it's rather patronising to suggest a burger would get them to use it. There are 2 simpler and cheaper ways to improve voter turn out:
1) Present a choice of talented politicians with substantially differing views who look like they might improve the country;
2) Have a tick-box for "None of The Above Because They Are All Lousy And None Represents My Views".
If we'd had either of those I would have voted in one of the 3 General Elections held since I became an adult.
- Roz, Chamonix, France, 11/12/2007 09:58
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