Buy the Vote! (2020) Board Game

Buy the Vote! is a political board game released in 2020 that challenges players to use their wits and strategies to secure the most votes and win the election. With a unique theme centered around political maneuvering and alliances, this game offers a fresh and engaging experience for players looking for a different type of tabletop game.

Game Components of Buy the Vote!

5 Player Mats

5 Free-Standing Voting Booths

51 State Cards (including 50 states and Washington D.C.)

9 State Labels

168 Money Tokens.

How To Setup Buy the Vote!

To set up the game, players begin by collecting their player mats and voting booths. The state card deck is shuffled, and a set of state cards is drawn to determine which states will be up for bidding in the first round. Each player starts with an initial warchest of $10 million. Privacy screens (voting booths) are used to keep bids secret during the bidding process.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Blind Bidding: Players bid on states without knowing the bids of their opponents.

Campaign Financing: Players spend campaign dollars to win states; they spend the bid amount regardless of whether they win or lose.

State Cards: Each state card has a specific electoral vote value.

Swing States: Special state cards allow the winner to take a state card from another player.

Fundraising: Winning states generates additional funds for future rounds.

Objective: The player with the most electoral votes becomes the Presidential Nominee, and the player with the second most electoral votes becomes the Running Mate. The goal is to reach 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

Player Experience

Playing **Buy the Vote** is a fast-paced and engaging experience. The game is easy to learn but requires dynamic strategy to win. Players must manage their campaign finances carefully, balancing the need to win crucial states with the risk of overspending. The use of privacy screens adds a layer of tension and surprise, as players reveal their bids simultaneously. The game is suitable for families and casual gamers, with a playtime of only 15 minutes.

Pros

Fast-Paced: The game is quick to learn and play, lasting only 15 minutes.

Engaging: The blind bidding mechanism and swing states create a thrilling and unpredictable experience.

Educational: Introduces concepts of campaign financing and electoral votes in a fun way.

Family-Friendly: Recommended for ages 9+ and is enjoyable for parents and kids alike.

Cons

Learning Curve: More experienced players may have an initial advantage over novices.

Player Count: At 5 players, the game can become less balanced due to the limited number of points available.

Personal Thoughts on Buy the Vote!

**Buy the Vote** is an excellent choice for those looking for a quick, fun, and strategically rich board game. It is particularly appealing to those interested in politics or looking for a game that combines bidding mechanics with a unique theme. While it may not suit all gamers, its brevity and engaging gameplay make it a great introduction to modern board games, especially for families and new players. However, for more experienced gamers, the game might feel a bit too light and predictable after multiple plays.

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