Comment Text:
I vehemently oppose the proposal your agency is currently considering that would allow a private company to accept bets on the outcomes of elections.
Allowing people to place bets on elections would only add to the mistrust of our election system's integrity and results. Election officials would face an even more dangerous environment as they work to protect our votes. Allowing betting on elections would lead to more conspiracy theories, lies, and harassment directed at these officials.
Consider the damage that will surely result from the dubious use of artificial intelligence. Betting on elections would incentivize people to use AI to create false or misleading content to influence popular opinion and maximize winnings.
This is truly election interference at a whole new level.
Allowing people to bet on election results is also fundamentally opposed to a well-functioning democracy. It promotes a team spectator sport mentality where people are more concerned with their side winning at any cost than learning about policy and engaging with their community for the greater good.
The last thing we need is a Wheel of Fortune election system. Please reject the proposal to allow betting on election results and put the full weight of the CFTC in support of a healthy, untainted democracy. Thank you very much.
