[fgonzag]

Not in Mexico, vote buying is pretty common. But over here it pretty much relies on the fact that poorer folk don't know your vote is completely anonymous. They'll tell you sure I'll give you money, a TV, cellphone, whatever. But I will find out if you don't vote for me, and most simply believe it.

And in the latest election where the incumbent party lost, It was pretty publicized that they went to a lot of the poorer colonies to try and get their money, cell phones and tvs back. All quickly forgotten as soon as the media got a whiff of it.

Buying votes in a first world country probably isn't possible as most people are somewhat (and probably wrongly) educated on the topic, and hold pretty firm views on it. However, it's a piece of pie on mostly illiterate people. Even then, people get tired, see the latest elections in Mexico.