I had a lengthy talk with Dan Larimer yesterday morning about governance and block producers. The topic of "paying for votes" came up, and he expressed deep concern that such a practice could harm the long term health of the EOS.IO platform.
The health of the EOS.IO platform requires people (token holders) to cast thoughtful, informed votes for block producers and for system upgrade proposals. That requires effort and judgment.
When people (token holders) vote instead based on direct personal payoffs, they rob the platform of their judgment and put their own profit ahead of the platform's health.
There is likely no practical way to prevent the practice of paying for votes, but it certainly deserves to be frowned upon, and at least some token holders will agree with this and will, I hope, vote against any BP candidate that offers to pay for votes.
I hope BP candidates will make clear their own policies on the controversial topic of paying for votes.