In the old days, voters used to frequently receive something once they cast their ballot, often something potentially more liberating that the “I Voted” sticker (read Richard Bensel’s book, “The American Ballot Box in the Mid-Nineteenth Century”, for many examples). There was a story in the Los Angeles Times this morning about something similar going on in Houston: the city has a “Vote and Vaccinate” program going at early voting locations in heavily Latino and African American parts of the city.

But the program has become politicized, as Republicans apparently are charging that the availability of flu shots at early voting locations will increase Democratic turnout in Houston … forcing the mayor to pull the plug on the vaccination program.