# Is this legal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 4, 2000, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/39638 "2000-11-04T01:34:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2000, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/39638/1 "2000-11-04T01:34:35Z")
I was cruising around, and ran across a few sites… the idea was to trade votes in swing states, with folks that are going to be voting in states that are showing themselves to be solidly locked in for bush. The idea is to sending votes in for Gore in states that are showing as bro Bush, and show more votes for Nader in states that will be going to Gore. One statement was that that way, they’re not disrupting the voting, but they are giving Gore a better chance. The whole purpose is to get the 5% necessary for Green Party matching funds next election year… What do you think?? ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2000, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/39638/2 "2000-11-04T01:55:39Z")
Well, the Attorney General of California seems to think it isn’t, as he’s filed a motion to shut down one of the vote trading websites. The ACLU thinks otherwise, and is defending the website. However, I suspect it would be legal as long as the traders receive nothing of value. ISTR a case a few years back where the Subway sandwich chain offered free food to anyone who could prove he voted (i.e. show a ballot stub or “I voted” sticker) – they ran afoul of at least one state law. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2000, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/39638/3 "2000-11-04T02:47:35Z")
There’s a thread on this in GQ: Vote Swapping. **ZenBeam** posted a quote from the site [nadertrader.org](http://nadertrader.org) that says > [@](#): > > _originally posted by ZenBeam_ > Is it legal? > > "A spokesperson at the U.S. Justice Department, which investigates potential instances of voter fraud, said it is, since the sites ‘serve as a clearing house. There is no pecuniary exchange, and it is an agreement amongst private parties, no legal violation there in terms of violation fraud. It definitely is an innovative campaign technique, to say the least.’ " (excerpted from the MSNBC article of 10/27, reachable through our media page.) > “According to Chris Watney, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department, such vote trades are kosher as far as the law is concerned. 'In general, it’s a crime to promise voters anything of value if they vote a certain way,” she said. "So this system, where no money is exchanged, is OK.’ " (excerpted from the article “Vote Trade: The Democratic Way” at [http://www.wired.com](http://www.wired.com), posted 2:00 a.m. Oct. 31, 2000 PST.) ---
**Author:** ![Freedom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2000, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/39638/4 "2000-11-04T04:12:50Z")
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=44115](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=44115)