People Openly Sell Votes for $20 in the Dominican Republic
- New rules bring new twist to election-day market for ID cards
- From free gas to rides home, campaign season offers perks
Voting at a polling station in Santo Domingo during general elections on May 15.
Photographer: Fran Afonso/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Jayson was a first-time voter in the Dominican Republic, or would have been, if he’d had any intention of voting. Instead he was figuring out how to turn his ballot card into cash.
In the end, the 19-year-old said he got 1,000 pesos ($22) in return for surrendering the ID during Sunday’s presidential election. Jayson had a Plan B to solicit bids -- “I’ll go around with my card on my forehead” -- but didn’t need to use it. His friend, Luis, 21, did even better. He said he was paid about $28 to vote for the ruling Dominican Liberation Party: “I took the money but then I just voted for who I wanted anyway.’’