University of Minnesota student charged with offering his vote on eBay (attorney, for sale)

[jimmayor007]

A college student claimed it was all a joke when he put his vote in this fall's presidential election up for sale on the Web auction site eBay. But prosecutors didn't see the humor.

University of Minnesota student Max P. Sanders, 19, was charged with a felony Thursday in Hennepin County District Court after allegedly asking for a minimum of $10 in exchange for voting for the bidder's preferred candidate.

"Good luck!" Sanders wrote under the eBay handle zepdrummer612. "You're (sic) country depends on You!"

Sanders was charged with one count of bribery, treating and soliciting under an 1893 state law that makes it a crime to offer to buy or sell a vote.

According to a criminal complaint, the Minnesota secretary of state's office learned about the offering on the Web site and told prosecutors. Investigators sent a subpoena to eBay and got information that led to Sanders.

The student told investigators he made the eBay posting, adding, "That was a joke. It's no longer listed," according to the complaint.

"We take it very seriously. Fundamentally, we believe it is wrong to sell your vote," said John Aiken, a spokesman for the office. "There are people that have died for this country for our right to vote, and to take something that lightly, to say, 'I can be bought.'

"It's a real shame," he said. "I can imagine the conversations being held in American Legion Clubs and VFWs about whether this is a joke or not."

The scarcely used law had its heyday in the 1920s, when many people sold their votes in exchange for liquor, Assistant County Attorney Pat Diamond said

...read the full article here

[bls5555]

Originally Posted by jimmayor007

"We take it very seriously. Fundamentally, we believe it is wrong to sell your vote," said John Aiken, a spokesman for the office. "There are people that have died for this country for our right to vote, and to take something that lightly, to say, 'I can be bought.'

There are a LOT of other things people have died for in this country that we seem more than content to toss down the drain.

[bighusker]

A felony? Good Lord. I'm much more offended at the waste of taxpayer money on pursuing worthless charges that will ultimately be dropped. What a waste of time.

[kuan]

OMG people have no sense of humor. Sell a vote for $10 and it's called a felony. But a bunch of votes for $100,000 and it's called a campaign.

[MNNative]

Originally Posted by kuan

OMG people have no sense of humor. Sell a vote for $10 and it's called a felony. But a bunch of votes for $100,000 and it's called a campaign.

I was totally thinking the same thing!

[jimmayor007]

wait till obama hears of this

[Slig]

One case of this may not mean anything but there are countries where elections are won in this manner. That kind of political corruption destroys nations.

[TimtheGuy]

Our LIBERAL justice system allows hard core criminals to walk the streets and they want to waste time, money and effort on this guy....what a joke! Whoever concocted this charge should be fired TODAY!!