Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Subs for Votes?

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A man identifying himself as an Obama campaign worker delivered food to a north side Milwaukee polling place this afternoon, apparently on a multi-stop tour of voting sites.

The election officials at Hampton School accepted the delivery of sub sandwiches, snacks and bottled water from the man, who left without giving his name.

He first said the food and drink was for the poll workers, who were in the middle of double shift. Then he said it should go for people waiting in line to vote.

There were people voting and registering at the time, about 3:45 p.m., but no actual line of voters. A Journal Sentinel reporter and an observer from the Obama campaign were at the polling place and heard the man identify himself as an Obama worker.

The elections officials were surprised and delighted by the delivery. The chief poll worker initially indicated they would partake. But they re-thought the plan after discussions involving the Obama observer and the Journal Sentinel reporter.

...Wisconsin law prohibits giving anything of value to any elector to induce the elector to vote for a particular candidate. "Anything of value" is defined as any amount of money, or any object which has utility independent of any political message it contains and the value of which exceeds $1.

Neil Albrecht, deputy director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, said he was unaware of any food deliveries.

He said he wanted to investigate the legal issues before making a definitive statement. He said he believed there is no law prohibiting gifts of food to poll workers.

Are these poll workers involved with the Obama campaign?

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