Athens, Ohio (AP) -- An Ohio prosecutor is investigating whether democratic party officials in Athens County illegally offered a $5 bounty for bringing Ohio University students to the polls.

Keller Blackburn, assistant Athens County prosecutor, says the office is looking into the allegation that surfaced last week.

Susan Gwinn, the athens county democratic party chairwoman, says there was an agreement to pay students for a get-out-the-vote effort but the idea of paying for votes is ridiculous.

The Ohio University college democratic party says no member has ever paid someone to vote or accepted money to cast a vote.

Ohio democratic party chairman Chris Redfern had urged Gwinn to suspend the program immediately and not issue any payments that may have been planned.

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