Comment Text:
I am writing to STRONGLY encourage you to NOT make our elections just another opportunity to ''bet" on something. The mere fact of doing so would diminish the importance to our democracy to take our elections very seriously. Further, it is very likely that a citizen's 'bet' will determine his or her vote. That makes NO sense at all in terms of how important our elections truly are. Here are a few other thoughts that should require your negative response to this proposal:
Allowing this proposal will undermine the integrity of our elections and our democracy.
Allowing betting on election outcomes will create strong financial incentives for special interests to manipulate and interfere in our elections.
Allowing this proposal will reduce voter confidence, and lead to a perception that election outcomes are not solely determined by voters’ choices, but also by those who bet on election results.
Allowing this proposal puts personal gain ahead of the public interest.
Allowing this proposal undermines the principle of one person, one vote – the bedrock of our democracy.
Some are restatements of my thoughts above. But EVERY word here should require the death of this idea.