Undeniable Fact: It's a shoe-in!

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Ever wonder why all U.S. voter registration forms ask for your shoe size? As it turns out, because of a little-known law passed in the 1920's everyone who votes is entered in a secret "shoe lottery". Approximately 7% of all voters receive a free pair of shoes in the mail two weeks after each election. This was originally intended to increase voter turnout, but due to constitutional restrictions on incentives to vote, the shoe lottery cannot be directly connected to the election process. As a result, there is a tiny box at the bottom of voter registration forms which allows voters to opt out of the lottery.

If you win the shoe lottery it is a felony to tell anyone about it. According to the law, if asked about your new shoes you are required to respond "I bought them at the shoe store." Giving any additional information can land you in jail for up to three years or more, and will result in you losing your right to vote (I've never won myself, so I'm free to talk about it).

In truth, the secret shoe lottery law would have been repealed long ago, but because it was passed in secret, House and Senate rules do not allow the law to even be discussed, especially because 7% of representatives and senators can be assumed to have won the lottery.

If you're trying to decide whether or not to vote today, maybe this will help you make up your mind.

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8 Comments:

Blogger Edward Hansen said...

lol dude the right to vote can not be taken away from you because it says so in the independance declaration that Jefferson signed on, and there is no secret shoe lottery

4:28 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

umm that guy is an idiot..... felons, lose their right to vote.. its common knowledge

11:45 PM  
Blogger Hallucinogenious said...

Actually it all depends on what state you live in. Some felons can vote.

10:34 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

And I heard that the secret shoe lottery depends on what state you live in. Up here in Vermont, for example, it is against the law to send shoes in the mail. Hence no secret shoe lottery, as you said, edward.

10:59 AM  
Blogger Ouroborus said...

Simply go down to your local US Postal Office and ask for a Voter's Registration Form. There is no shoe size question.

4:53 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

5:35 PM  
Blogger John Fembup said...

The registration form in my state does ask for shoe size.

You must ask for the correct form however.

9:18 PM  
Blogger duffytoler said...

Oh God, not the tired old "shoe lottery" discussion again. Look, this argument comes up over and over because some states have it on the voter registration forms and some don't. ALL states are required to enter every registered voter into the shoe lottery.

6:23 PM  

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