Food given in Atlanta to encourage voter registration

ATLANTA - Atlanta officials say it seemed like a good idea at the time. <br> <br> City employees signed up 134 coworkers and other new voters by giving away free food -- 600 sandwiches and about 30 dozen doughnuts. They were unaware that they may have violated state election law. <br> <br> A spokeswoman for Mayor Shirley Franklin -- Sandra Walker -- says officials thought they were performing a service. <br> <br> Walker said anyone who asked for food was given some, though a news release said ``lunch will be provided for employees who bring a voter registration card or register to vote on site.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Secretary of State Cathy Cox said state law prohibits giving ``anything of value&#39;&#39; in exchange for registering to vote or voting. <br> <br> Cox&#39;s office called city officials and told them not to do it again. <br> <br> Voters who registered by Monday are eligible to vote in the August 20 Republican and Democratic primaries. Those who register afterward will have to wait to vote until the November fifth general election. <br> <br> Last week, the state had 4.62 million registered voters - up from 4.56 million last year.