Comment Text:
Hi. I'm a voting, taxpaying American citizen.
I strongly urge you to deny the ridiculous proposal your agency is currently considering that would allow a [probably] greedy private company to accept bets on the outcomes of our American elections. Let them bet elsewhere.
Low confidence in elections is already an issue in America--unfortunately, many lies have been circulating constantly--by the losers--about the legitimacy of our most recent presidential election. Allowing people to place bets on elections would only cause greater concerns about election integrity, and a more dangerous environment for election officials.
Artificial intelligence is already spreading wildly. I’m also concerned that betting on elections would incentivize people to use AI to create false or misleading content to influence popular opinion and maximize winnings.
I’m concerned for election officials, too, who aren’t anticipating betting on election results and who are already facing unprecedented attacks by the election deniers. Allowing betting on elections would lead to more conspiracy theories, lies, and harassment directed at these officials.
Allowing people to bet on election results is also fundamentally opposed to a well-functioning democracy. To any citizen in favor of democracy, it's just wrong! 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.
Please reject this ridiculous, ill-advised proposal to allow betting on election results.
Take a stand in favor of a healthy democracy.
Thank you.
