Comment Text:
I urge you to deny the proposal your agency is currently considering that would allow a private company to accept bets on the outcomes of elections.
Allowing people to bet on election results is 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.
I’m also concerned for election officials, who aren’t anticipating betting on election results and who are already facing unprecedented attacks. Allowing betting on elections would lead to more conspiracy theories, lies, and harassment directed at these officials.
