CEDAR RAPIDS | Some people might call it a gimmick, but David Snowden Overby, a self-described old liberal from the 60s, prefers to call his Election Day plan to pay people to vote for him guerrilla theater.

Overby, a Libertarian candidate in Iowa House 57 in Dubuque County, said he and his friends plan to stand outside polling places Nov. 4 to give a penny to anyone who promises to vote for him.

I want to make a point that the election system is corrupt, Overby, a former Charles City newspaper editor, said. If faceless PACs and other organizations can pay millions of dollars to buy elections, I can certainly give voters a penny. At least Im honest.

The U.S. Supreme Court has called campaign contributions free speech, Overby said, and this is taking it to its logical conclusions.

Although political action committees pumping millions of dollars into campaigns is legal, paying people at the polls isnt, according to Dubuque County Auditor Denise Dolan and the Iowa Secretary of State Office.

Overby and his friends could face a variety of charges.

Dolan hasnt discussed the situation with the Dubuque County attorney and said she doesnt plan to monitor polling places to see if Overby shows up.

If hes doing it, Ill hear about it from my poll workers, she said.

Overby believes he has a legal defense if he is charged.

There are laws against campaigning in front of the polling site, but no laws against buying votes, he said. Its a fine point.

Originally posted here:

Libertarian to pay penny a vote in campaign fund protest