LINCOLN — Three days later, it is a different name for the same game.

“The Lincoln Census Lottery is not a lottery at all,” Mayor Lew Watson said.

Watson said there has been quite a reaction from the announcement of the Lincoln Census Lottery, including numerous calls from various media.

“We don’t have word on the legality of it yet, but if what we propose is wrong then Publisher’s Clearing House is wrong,” he said. “That is the best parallel we have seen.”

Watson said the Lincoln Census Lottery’s name will change to more accurately reflect the fact it is not a true lottery.

“We aren’t sure what we are going to call it yet,” he said. “We named it the ‘Lincoln Lottery’ because it sounds good.”

Watson said the goal of the Lincoln Census Lottery is to raise awareness about the upcoming census and encourage local residents to fill out their census forms.

“This may achieve the desired results, which is to raise awareness,” he said. “We have looked at the Code (Code of Alabama), and there is no exchange of value from participants.”

Watson said exchange of value (purchasing a lottery ticket) is one of the criteria that determines if a game is gambling.

“This doesn’t cost anything for participants,” he said. “It is just a reward for them to fill out the census forms.”

Watson said he and the city council are putting up the money for the rewards. The council members are putting up $150 each, and Watson is putting up $750. Residents will have three chances to win.

On Thursday, April 1, the city will hold a Census Day drawing at 5 p.m. The Lincoln resident whose name is drawn will win $500. A second drawing is scheduled at the end of the census count period, with another $500 prize to the Lincoln resident who has completed and delivered their 2010 Census Form and city form to City Hall.

On the city form, each resident is also asked to estimate the 2010 census count for Lincoln. The Lincoln resident who guesses correctly, or is the closest to the actual census count, will win $500. If there is a tie, the money is divided equally.

“The census is important,” Watson said.

Watson said in addition to the three $500 prizes, the community, county, and state will all benefit from an accurate census count.

“We think this will happen after all, but we aren’t through looking at the issue,” he said. “We are comfortable at this point that it is not illegal, from what we have read from the Code (Code of Alabama). But we do want the appropriate officials to take a look before we launch.”

Watson said he has contacted the Talladega County District Attorney’s Office, and expects to know something by Tuesday.

“We are dealing with a contest here,” he said.