There's going to be a new reason for Arizonans to go to the polls this year: They could win $1 million. The Secretary of State's Office certified Thursday that backers of the voter lottery plan had submitted more than enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

'Tis an intriguing idea, and as the article illustrates, one not exactly universally supported in the Grand Canyon State. So, as an alternative to mandatory voting, give us your take via one of the very rare BikerDad polls...

Wow. I guess the state of Arizona has money to burn. Aren't state lotteries supposed to bring in money instead of throwing it out?

This just seems silly. I would guess that the effect on the voters would be minimal. Yes, a few more people will vote; mostly the same kind of people who throw away a dollar on a lottery ticket whenever they stop by the gas station. As far as the "quality" of vote is concerned, I suppose it would tend to attract people with a weaker grasp of the mathematics of probability, and people who are a little more superstitious than average.

So, overall, I have to go with a very slight increase in the number of voters, and a very slight decrease in the scientific/materialist philosophy of the voters. (Whether that is a drop in "quality" is a matter of opinion.)

Well, one million bucks on a state treasury is pretty much chump change- I mean, what conservative has stuck with the old "goverment spending is bad" in the GW regime?

I think it may very well be one of those "rising tides lifts all boats" type of deal. I think you will see a rise in quantity, yes, but I think the quality will improve as well.

I voted that it would decrese the quality but improve the quantity. I don't think the quality of the American votes can get much worse. After all, how many Americans actually take the time to read the bills that their Congressmen sign. This is one of the reasons that powerful politicians can sneak in pork barrel spending and cator to the special interest groups without the general voters noticing.

Sorry, I don't have the time to read every bill that my representatives in government sign or don't sign. Nor do I care to wade through every little thing that comes across the multitudes of tables.

The lottery idea is lame. What, only a million bucks? Powerball is up to over a hundred million!

Such is the mentality of lotteries. So, I'm predicting no to very little change in voting habits. Either you give a hoot or you don't.