An e-mail sent yesterday from the Ohio University College Democrats might have put a price tag on voters, although members of the College Democrats said the information has been taken out of context.
Remember
if you bring a friend from 4th Ward they are more than a friend they're 5 bucks! according to the e-mail written by OU College Democrats Vice President Kellie Galan.
Today, City Council elections will pit Christine Fahl (D) against Randy Morris (R) for the 4th Ward Council seat.
The OU College Democrats offered the reward to their volunteers through money from the Athens County Democratic Party, said Chris Mullen, communication chair.
It was a compensation for our volunteers for taking out the vote for early voting. It was not money for people to vote
Mullen said.
Less than 10 people voted early and the volunteers will receive a check from the Athens County Democrats after it has been verified that they signed up people for early voting, Mullen said.
In the past, the Athens County Democrats have compensated their volunteers, Mullen said, adding that he received pizza slices after helping with last year's elections.
Pete Couladis, Athens County Republican Party chairman, said that there is a difference between offering refreshments to volunteers and offering them money to get voters.
It's highly unusual if it's campaign expense and they're paid
just throwing money around to get people out to vote. I don't think it passes the smell test
Couladis said. Why do they have to be paid to go round up their friends?
Couladis also said that it could violate the Ohio Revised Code, which states Advance
pay
or cause to be paid or procure or offer to procure money or other valuable thing to or for the use of another
with the intent that it or part thereof shall be used to induce such person to vote or to refrain from voting.
The OU College Democrats are contacting the Ohio Democratic Party, Mullen said.
Suzi Hawk, president of the Ohio University College Republicans, said that their volunteers are not compensated.
We do not condone any actions that they are taking; we find that it is highly unethical to pay people for their vote
Hawk said. I'm kind of disgusted by that. ... I think people should vote on beliefs or ideologies.
Correction: Both Chris Mullen's and Suzi Hawk's names were misspelled in the original version of this article. The Post regrets the errors.
