I am surprised that the number is so low. I spent hundreds of hours starting a political website, and would consider not voting if paid. It is not as if my one vote ever changed anything here in North Carolina.

Of course college students would trade their vote for an iPod. Our electoral college guarantees that most of our votes won't count. I live in a red state that always goes Republican. Unless someone happenes to live in a swing state there is little reason to show up at the polls.

I would give it up for much less! In fact, I plan to NOT vote for the first time. The elections are rigged. The rigging starts before the primary election begins. Gee, can I have a bottle of Pepsi for my vote? Sounds like a great deal to me.

Are we talking an iPod Nano or the new 160 GB one? ;-)

To the guy who mentioned the elections are rigged, you're right! But that's more reason TO vote. It's easier to rig a close election. The more people one side gets out, the harder it is for the other side to rig an election. I started to feel like you, but after reading Greg Palast's 'Armed Madhouse' I realize it's more important than ever to vote. It doesn't make a lot of difference, but it might make a little and a little was all that was needed in the past two elections.

The only thing I'd give my vote up for is to have all of our military men and women home safe and sound by Christmas. World Peace would be my second choice.

A mere 1 million? I'd hold out for ten, tax free.

And is this just for one election cycle, or for life? That may have some bearing on the price someone would accept to not vote. If some pol insisted I never vote again, I'd want even more than 10 mil.

Yeah, I'm being wry. I weep for my country.

To borrow from an advert; living in a democracy - priceless.

Yeah that is a sorry state of affirs for the college educated. But that iPhone is one sexy beast.

Hey I would also do for a free laptop,a night in NYC all expenses paid 5 star hotel with 2 lovely ladies and $15,000 bucks in my pocket. Where do I sign?

I'm old-fashioned. I was raised to consider voting a privilege and my responsibility. So I have moments when I'm glad that someone with such irresponsible priorities isn't diluting my vote. On the other hand, if you don't vote, don't expect me to listen to your complaints if you feel you've been let down (polite phrase for ...) by the government you let sneak in.

I'm old-fashioned. I was raised to consider voting a privilege and my responsibility. So I have moments when I'm glad that someone with such irresponsible priorities isn't diluting my vote. On the other hand, if you don't vote, don't expect me to listen to your complaints if you feel you've been let down (polite phrase for ...) by the government your irresponsibility let in.

Something about this article grazes the surface of the substantial topic of the current state of US style republican goverment. WE DO NOT HAVE DEMOCRACY. From here, how can we suss out the value of an individual vote.

If you take into consideration the way votes have been suppressed in our history, this ipod thing is no big deal. The notion that perhaps your vote won't make it through the process to be counted certainly makes the ipod all the more appealing.

Interesting.
In India, politicians buy votes from poor voters. And the value of a vote ranges from one dollar to ten dollars.

This simple thought experiment does sponsor an analysis of the value of voting or at least the significance of an individual vote. Since virtually all of my voting history has been on losing sides, what is the value of voting for the second or third runnerup? What perceptible disadvantage did Geo W. encounter for having lost the popular vote in 2000? What would I, given the choice posited in the hypothetical, lose in trading away my vote for a tangible reward? What value would anyone put on my vote when there are discounts built into the system to marginalize the weight of my registered choice?

Might I still have the option to petition my government on specific issues after the 2008 election which might have percolated to the surface during periods of close societal examinations? What little value might be incurred from communicating to my representatives about issues of pressing importance to me would be unhindered unless I were a record on a database detailing my uncommittment to my voting power.

To exchange voting in one presidential election for a college degree seems inescapably advantageous. How many potential voters will do exactly that for nothing? However, would I do it for $50.00? $25.00? A handwritten letter of thanks from Karl Rove?

It's interesting to view the mostly cynical commentary, and I cannot disagree.

However, being somewhat more sceptical in all matters, I question the validity of the author's phrase, "A survey of NYU students..."

---What size survey?
---How are questions phrased?
---Is there a statistical bias built in?

So, all you guys and gals, don't just accept anyone's statement starting with, "A Survey....."

I look forward to more intelligent responses.

That is exactly what the republican party counts on, greed. All you have to do is look around and you can easily see that the youth of this country are the greediest and most selfish group of people on the earth. That’s part of the reason the rest of the world holds this country in such disdain. They would give up what little they do have to be able to vote and we would give up our right to vote just to put a few bucks in our pockets. That’s part of the reason King chaney, Queen bush and the rest of the republicans have been able to gain and hold on to their power. And by the way, single votes add up to many and if you can get enough people to get their heads out of their asses and stop being concern only about themselves it would mean something!

where do i pick up my free ipod?