Bruce,

>A colleague from Taiwan said the near-100% particiaption there was done through capitalism. Candidates would literally pass out cash to voters at the polls, and campaign mambers would observe to be sure the vote was for the right candidate.

In my home county in Alabama (a "dry" county, BTW), election night was well-known for free-flowing liquor provided by the various candidates, especially the guy who was county sheriff for years. He had his watchers at the polls to keep his bought voters "honest". After voting, they were directed to the location for picking up their payoff.

It finally caught up with him when a new District Attorney called in the FBI in an election that had US Senate candidates on the ballot. The Sheriff spent about 10 years behind bars, but still is a local favorite among the old-timers.