eBay'er Arrested For Attempting To Sell His Vote

The Associated Press reports that Max P. Sanders, 19, is charged with a felony for attempting to auction off his vote on eBay for the upcoming presidential election. From the article: '"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"' Yes, that is a terrible shame, isn't it. Perhaps we should arrest, prosecute, and imprison everyone who sells their vote. The boy says it was all a joke, but prosecutors aren't laughing. Max faces up to 5 years in prison and $10,000 in fines if he is convicted.

Comments

Cut out the middlemen

[homer_s]

People sell their vote all the time - they sell it for lower taxes, free health care, cheaper oil, etc.

This guy just wants to cut out the middlemen.

If only he had made PayPal a payment option...

[ActusReus]

... eBay wouldn't have turned him in.

feedback...

[Anonymous Coward]

A+++++++++++++ would vote again!

Silly kid

[Stevenovitch]

You get MUCH more money for American Idol votes...

Re:I wouldn't have backed down.

[megaditto]

I think your vote is like your pussy:

It's perfectly legal to give it away for free, but the moment you try to earn some cash...

Re:You can't transfer a 'vote'

[mobby_6kl]

Well maybe they'll actually get him on fraud charges, as he wouldn't be able to prove his vote to the potential buyer.

Re:Excessive?

[Poltras]

You must be new here. I mean, seriously. And in general, not here in the slashdot sense.

Re:I wouldn't have backed down.

[Anonymous Coward]

I have a penis, you insensitive clod!

Re:I wouldn't have backed down.

[D-Cypell]

Oh I see! Not being American I was unaware of this loop hole!

So how come this guy didn't just trade his vote for dinner and a show?

Re:GOOD

[WeirdJohn]

Hmm, I was under the impression that the invention happened in France, but due to a cock-up by Management they didn't implement it right and it broke down. The Americans didn't respect the French prior art, and reimplemented it there, but with a different set of cock-ups (in particular the "Electoral College" - One Vote One Value eh?)

If people can't sell their votes....

[julian67]

If people can't sell their votes how do the politicians expect to be able to buy them? Surely this is restraint of trade, hence unethical.

Re:I wouldn't have backed down.

[Ihmhi]

Why the Hell do people spell it Amerika? Is it because of Rammstein, or is it because we just want it to sound German and oppressive (which... is pretty much Rammstein, but still)?

Re:Oh cry me a river

[dontmakemethink]

And who the hell are you to tell Americans how to run their country? Don't you know how many people died so Americans can ignore everyone's opinion but their own? ;p

What about buying votes?

[mrroot]

It is illegal to sell your vote, but not illegal to buy your vote.

Re:Oh cry me a river

[El_Muerte_TDS]

Don't you know how many people died so Americans can ignore everyone's opinion but their own?

Not enough?

Re:Excessive?

[easyTree]

The law says that all are innocent until proven guilty, however, the reality is far different.

You are innocent until a bunch of jurors, many of whom can't even comprehend your case nor care to seek the truth, decide they don't like your t-shirt.

Maybe

[MrKaos]

he just wasn't using it.

Re:Excessive?

[Anonymous Coward]

You're weak on crime! Think of the children!

Re:You can't transfer a 'vote'

[Froboz23]

I think they prefer "PES, dispenser of justice."