The real meaning of a vote

Chicago precinct captains considered voting to be part of a larger transaction. The captain would perform a service for the voter – sometimes legal, sometimes not – and treat it as a “favor,” even if it was the delivery of a basic city service.

In return, the voter would vote for the candidates supported by the precinct captain.

Precinct captains expected voters to cast votes as a thank you for a “favor,” not because voters agreed with the policy position of a candidate.