What a bunch of horsecrap. People should be able to do whatever they want with their vote. Next thing you know they are going to make Marijuana illegal. Jeez.

I’m just wondering how does the person that sold their vote actually prove who he/she voted for .

kk - he said he’s video himself voting

This is so dumb. He should be able to sell his vote. Like a vote really even matters - this country was bought our years ago by corporations. Congressmen sell their vote all the time, it’s called campaign financing. If you don’t think that the people who give money expect the donatees to vote on things in their favor, you are naive and stupid.

While I agree with the law (otherwise it would be the candidate with the most of money that wins, regardless of their beliefs) I think the punishment is a bit harsh. I doubt Max really knew that his actions were illegal otherwise he wouldn’t risk 5 years of jail time. He’ll probably be ok, but now everyone knows.

What I find disgusting that members of Congress are selling their votes all the time by accepting “donations” from all those PACs and lobbies and yet when YOU try to sell YOUR vote, they put you in prison.

US has become one of the most corrupt countries in the World.

This really just seems like an advertising stunt for that new Kevin Costner movie.

This was a really dumb idea, he deserves what’s coming. Lets all stop trying to be so post-modern and actually give a shit about our culture.

Yeah, trading money for votes is wrong.

By the way, how many massive entitlements and handouts will Senator Barack Obama promise me to buy my vote?

I bet there will be tonnes more of these…

I agree the punishment is absolutely harsh- especially one that 99% of Americans would not know is illegal. However, it is incredible stupid and dangerous. It SHOULD be illegal. I also think it sucks that lobbyists “buy” votes of politicians. It is a shame. Very much a shame.

Claiming that you didn’t know that selling votes was illegal sounds like a failing of the educational system, specifically civics class.

If the government is going to be this frivolous, I think they should take Ebay down since it was collaborating with Max. It was wrong of Ebay to allow this 19 year old to make the post in the first place…

Max Sanders forgot a crucial part! First you must to become a senator, and then you sell your vote to the highest bidder.

Silly Max! Michael i hope you’re taking note, i wouldn’t know what to do for 5years without you.

absurd? selling your vote is perhaps the most anti-american activity i can think of off the top of my head.

especially around the 4th, when we celebrate our independence and think of those who have sacrificed so much to give us that voice in our government….it makes me physically ill to think that someone actually approves of this.

i’m done getting my “news” from you blog.

So, to get this straight, the writer of this blog supports vote-trading? This is like something the Yes Men could come up with. (In fact, they did.)

Wait… why is it absurd?

We want a govenment where rich people get to choose who wins?

Whaaa?

I support it. That is the only way to make any “CHANGE” out of this farce.

Are you really that dense, Arrington, to not see why selling your vote is a horrible idea?

I agree! We should always have the richest candidate become the president of the United States.

Bravo TechCrunch! Bravo!

Just a thought: This potentially shows you Arrington’s view on many things, including how he selects startups that are obsessively profiled on this blog.

I’m not sure why this is absurd at all. If he does get the maximum that would be kind of harsh, but since he hasn’t even been found guilty yet we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

Selling your vote undermines the very nature of our democracy and needs to be taken seriously. If you allow people to sell their votes then you allow the person with the most money to directly buy the election.

And if you decide to go through with your threat Michael I hope you get arrested as well. The issue is not a joke.

I’ll be everyones vote.

It was a joke com’on!

It was like the guy who was selling his “virginity”… If someone was bidding on it he/she should have faced same sort of punishment cause slavery (owning rights over other person) was abolished a couple of years ago (at least in US).
Have a little bit more of sense of humor please.

But DON’T sell your vote. Think with your BRAINnot with your pocket.

so if there were no bids, where is the crime exactly?

Without willingness of spamming here, I’d like to add that “democracy” and “money” are strictly attached as “media” and “winning presidential elections” are, so “money” and “winning presidential elections” are so linked as “democracy” and “media”.
The more money you have to buy media, the more chances to win a presidential election you have: nowadays democracy (?).

selling your vote shouldn’t be a crime, but buying a vote should be

yea… I think you people have it too good in the US… you folks should try living in a corrupt society with a disfunctional democracy. Then again… may be this (vote buying) should really be allowed so that you guys can have a taste of the consequence in a few decades or so.

IMO selling and buying both are so lame and both should be counted as crime, what a bad way of making money and winning =/

http://www.cdlponline.org/inde.....toryID=150

voteauction.com

“I’ll be listing my vote on Ebay, too, in protest of this. This is absurd.”

I’ll go see you on visiting days Mike unless they put you in Federal!

The theory that people vote and elect their representatives by their own will is the basis of democracy - otherwise Hillary Clinton would just have to spend a few dollars…..

Although radical, it’s an expected behaviour that it’s anti-moral in a democratic society. Hey, you won’t sell yourself as a sex slave, or at least, a few people would mention it, and the trade would be illegal in some countries, even if happens.

How is this different than how the politicians in NJ operate regularly? Political decisions are based on who is in whose pocket and who buys who out. It’s the same thing except that it’s being done by people who are actually in a position of enough power to make these bought votes count. Compare how much of a difference this guys vote will make compared to those in power here in NJ where changes are regularly bought. Do as I say and not as I do then?

So I guess this guy wasn’t union?

I think making that statement is a crime because it’s conspiracy to sell your vote. There’s no disclaimer, ie, (this is a joke).

haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I got a screenshot of this for archival purposes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8.....9/sizes/o/

“I’ll be listing my vote on Ebay, too, in protest of this. This is absurd.” is a quote from Mike Arrington.

The only reason I am providing an archive is if it’s changed for some reason. Selling votes is pretty rude. It would mean that rich people could take over by way of buying votes, and the United States would become like Canada with people like Lord Conrad Black, Mulroney, and Chretien.

The morons who think this is such a corrupt and horrible country can leave whenever they want. There are no fences keeping any of you idiots in. Either stop whining, or LEAVE! No one has the perfect system, it’s an impossibility to please everyone, but you go pick another country and live there for a while and see how you feel then.

And it’s been illegal to sell a vote in any state for at least a hundred years. Selling votes in the congress or senate has no bearing on picking the president. That vote should never be for sale, or we will be another 3rd world dictatorship, just ask the people in Venezuela.

This is from #11 - “sounds like a failing of the educational system”. This is a bit off topic but there are many other things that are omitted from our educational system. One thing that bothers me the most is the fact that all Americans have to file taxes, yet that subject isn’t mentioned in our schools either. Just thought I’d rant on that issue as well.

trading votes is as illegal as gambling, yet it happens. just like insurance companies are in gambling business, media trades votes….

this guy could be just kidding, or making a statement. either way, I don’t think he did it for the money. if he did it for money, than he’d better come up with something else quick! he’s going to need it….

a college kid placing a vote for $10 a felony?

C’mon…a slap on the wrist will do

more importantly - that newscaster is hot

its immoral to sell your vote on ebay. Do you want this beautiful country to become a country only controlled by who has the most money than by principles?

Paula
http://www.websiteduty.com

So companies can “donate” to special interest groups and lobbyists and politicians.

But the average person can’t get into this business? Kinda sad if you really think about it.

I’d be willing to pay tax, but we should without question be able to sell a vote. If a congressman can take a “donation”, why can’t I take a “donation”?

Sadly the US doesn’t even let you defer a vote to someone else. We’re still patting ourselves on the back for letting women vote.

@bendered: Your either just a troll or inept (my personal guess). 1. Venezuela really has nothing to do with sold votes. 2. If you cared even remotely about your country you’d try and improve it, not harass those who do care enough to point out the flaws. By your logic anyone who objected to slavery (which was well entrenched in US law at the time including the three-fifths compromise is anti-american.

Imagine presidential candidates being able to buy peoples’ votes. Imagine corporations funding candidates to to win the White House and make policies favoring them. Imagine the lack of accountability that results from buying votes. Imagine the utter freedom of policymaking.

You internet junkies are going too far with your affinity toward the internet and its many possibilities. I can agree with your stance on taking down music copyright restrictions. But I cannot reconcile with the idea of being able to sell your votes. It’s like selling out. Moderation in everything is a good thing.

Yeah, sorry, but buying and selling votes most definitely should not be a legal activity. If it were, then a few million dollars in bribes from rich people could swing rather important elections. We already have enough problems with money influencing politics, let’s not add another.

Yeah, allowing votes to be bought and sold is a bad idea on many levels.. but imagine what kind of an economic stimulus election years would bring!

Mike, once again you have proved how immature you really are. Voting is a privilege that many people around the world don’t have. By selling your vote to someone else you are not only giving the middle finger to those soldiers who are fighting everyday to guarantee that right but also belittling those who are threatened in other country to vote for whatever dictator is in power. Is everything about you for sale? You might think the law is silly and that is certainly your right. But knowingly breaking the law is idiotic.

Wow. I’m convinced that about a third of the comments here are posted with an implied *wink*.

This was a prank. It wasn’t an indictment of our political system, or “the troops”, or about how much the USA kicks F***ing ass. IT. WAS. A. PRANK! Was it funny? Personally, I don’t think so… but I “get it”.

I don’t think anyone is saying vote buying/selling should be legal. But the laws were put into place for a much different reason. And if this kid gets anything more than a kick in the pants and stern warning, it’s a travesty of justice.

hell, i will GIVE mine away … keep the change

To #19 (Michael) who said:
” I agree! We should always have the richest candidate become the president of the United States. ”

Isn’t this already the case?

Try running for President on a middle income and see how far you get. How many presidents were not at least millionaires when they landed the job?

Protest of what, Michael? Everything is supposed to be for sale? Even our democracy? I grew up in Minnesota, and I’ve known since at least sixth grade that it was illegal to sell your vote. You can feign outrage, and people can hide behind the guise that congress people sell their votes all the time, and this is no worse than that. But who are you kidding? Somethings are still beyond the pale. Get a life.

If anyone is guilty it is Ebay, because they should have checked the listing before allowing it to be posted to make sure it does not violate any laws of the country and the sate they are incorporated!

I seem to remember a news clip from the (maybe Sac Bee) in the 2000 election about some kid not selling his vote, but his ‘attention’

the auction was something like -

“My vote is not on auction. Only I can make that decision, however what you are bidding on is my time and attention. The winning bidder will have the privilege of 3 day of my time. I will fly to where-ever you want (within reason) at your expense. And during this time I will view whatever political materials you present me and give you my honest opinion of me and my generation. I am a college educated undecided 22 year old who has never voted or been affiliated in politics before.”

I remember that the auction got taken down after the press - not because it was against the law or TOS, but because eBay just didn’t even want to go there.

Just to be clear to Doug and others who are being intentionally dense, the ridiculous part of this story is the fact that we are spending government resources to prosecute him. kids do stupid things, like try to sell their vote on ebay. this is being prosecuted to get media attention to a few individuals.

In the game of buying and selling votes, it’s much better to be on the buying end.

I agree with Michael that there is certainly publicity to be had here. But it’s still wrong and should be illegal to sell a vote. I seriously hope everyone who suggested otherwise was joking.

Nevermind every soldier who was ever fought and died for this right, but just imagine what would happen if the many millions of people who are registered/qualified to vote, but don’t, all of sudden decided to cash in. Corruption on grand scale, all kinds of dodgy intermediaries, and the end result: a President who sells out to the people, ignores the will of the people, and starts wars on a whim.

Oh yeah, we already have that. Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot and make it worse. I can buy my own McDonald’s Value Meal, thank you very much.

This man is obviously a pedophile child-molester communist gun-nut anti-freedom envirowhacko right-wing liberal fundamentalist muslim bush-sympathizer terrorist. He should be thrown in a deep hole at Guantanamo, just as soon as my town bans pointy-toed shoes.

But seriously, these MN lawyers don’t have much *real* crime to keep them busy, do they… can you say “budget cuts”?

@Michael

What do you protest against?

I had thought everybody know a vote is not a good, nor property. I am glad that many people pointed out what a vote is.

Michael, you were poisoned. Though I was enjoying reading many of your posts, now I would be more mindful, as I know a bit about where you were from.

The hash punishment against selling vote is all right.

The only thing that the guy can do to avoid harsh punishment is to seek pardon.

Congressmen sell their votes to the highest bidder all the time. Will they all now be charged by USDOJ?

@ Andy Wong
Just like that time in Tangiers, I’ll take the hash punishment anytime;)

What he should have sold is his time to be educated on each candidates position.

Basically auction of 3 hours of time where he will spend learning about the candidate (of course the material being provided by the candidate).

Good, because trading money for votes is wrong and I don’t have to explain why!

Hmm, I think I’m going to be “intentionally dense” too.

Democracy is the culmination of 4000 extremely violent years of history. I think it’s quite a good arrangement. Let it slip for just a second and suddenly your cities are being flattened by carpet bombers and your citizens committing atrocious crimes in the name of something or other — see my country, Germany, c. 65 years ago.

So please, Michael, give a nod to those people who feel strongly about democracy before getting cross about something far far less important.

And don’t call them “intentionally dense”.

So the TechCrunch position is that selling votes is wrong, but that the laws against it shouldn’t be enforced?

And committing a crime is OK as long as you classify it as a “prank” when you get in trouble for it.

I don’t know whether this kid should be prosecuted - probably not - but selling votes is not a new idea. There is a reason why laws were passed against it. Good reasons.

Personally, we would love to follow Michael’s twitter feed in the event that he is imprisoned for this.

In fact, we tried to imagine what it might look like:
http://i30.tinypic.com/2njls7k.png

I don’t want to enter into a flame war, and I appreciate this blog a lot, but I have to agree that no one shouldn’t sell his vote on ebay, even symbolically.

I am sorry, you have the right to vote, but you don’t have the right to screw up democracy.

Corruption is a very serious issue.

Regardless of whether you think the government is acting responsibly out of principle, or milking the issue as a ‘meal ticket’ - I think ultimately the government’s motive is irrelevant here… democracy and the freedom of the vote is worth making a fuss about!!

Forget the conspiracy theories, no matter how flawed you think your system might be, if you simply open your eyes and look at what’s happening around the world (Zimbabwe for an obvious example) - you’ll realise it’s really not that bad.

I find some of the cynicism quite sickening, in light of what’s just happened in Zimbabwe. Millions of people have died for the vote, and hundreds of millions are still denied it. The law against selling/soliciting for votes is there for a very good and real reason with regard to corruption. He shouldn’t be imprisoned but he should be fined for his stupidity. Ebay seems to be the platform of choice for lame, unoriginal jokers.

… government is more screwed up and nothing more than puppets up at the top controlling things behind the scenes and you guys think its ok to prosecute 1 guy wanting some money for a crummy vote! just give him a slap on the hand and warn him ..don’t let those fucking pricks like lawers start getting involved.. $10,000 fine?!?! for a a piddly $10 takes the piss you noobs.

laws are fucked up people wake up!.. wakey wakey

“I’ll be listing my vote on Ebay, too, in protest of this.”

the trick Michael is on the first day in prison to kick some guy’s ass, otherwise you’ll become someone’s bitch…

“I’ll be listing my vote on Ebay, too, in protest of this.”

I really hope you actually do this. Its a rather uneducated statement.

Brad

@#44 - you are what is wrong with America.

It is unfortunate that congressmen, senators sell their vote all the time, but Americans have no idea what it means when dictators ( Castro, Mugabe, Putin etc ) hang on to power because they “bought” votes, as happens in most parts of the world. Perhaps you imagine America is immune to that such retrogressive behavior?

Guys, cherish what you have. It may be flawed, but it is still one of the best systems in this mad world.

Man that sucks if he get in trouble that some BS. Why can’t a man in American sell his vote. It my not be right, but what makes it wrong?

I completely agree with the law, although I think the potential punishment might be a bit harsh.

You should absolutely not be allowed to sell your vote in any democracy. I think the prank of selling on ebay is kind of funny, but the reality is there was a time when elections were secured by buying votes and whoever had the most money won (hence the reason the law was enacted in the first place). Of course someone can argue that’s still the case today - it’s just that the methods have changed - but I would counter that makes the principle just as important today as the day when the law was written.

Thanks, Mike, happy to help.

Looks like the article stirred up some discussion.

Is buying a vote a bad idea? Why be hypothetical. Just look at the countries where it has been going on for a while: Russia, Ukraine, a majority of African countries, … . The bad news is that trivial niceties like showers and Starbucks (oh, and infrastructure) are in short supply. The good news is that there’s enough booze available for cheap that you probably won’t miss it.

Is the government going too far on one little joke? Definitely. Unless you stop to consider that significant numbers of people can’t tell the difference between a “joke” and a bad idea and would sell their vote without hesitation to prove a point… or make some money. It’s smarter (and wastes a LOT less resources) to nip it in the bud rather than waiting to control it till the average Joe decides a couple of beers is worth more than his vote. Since when has freedom protected itself?

Still want to sell your vote? Help yourself and move to a country where you can; I for one have seen carefree jokers’ votes carefully manipulated by the shrewdly calculating power hungry for years and years, and I’m sticking with our “dumb” system.

The state is right in taking action. We have election rules so no one can buy an election. This is exactly the same issue. Look at Berlusconi in Italy, a two-time buyer of their elections and the owner of their mass media. If you allow this, what’s to stop Rupert Murdock from buy the US elections!

After reading so many of the comments I kow now why American is going down the tubes. Sell your vote….why? As an American that is your previliage, your right. Selling it is like saying I don’t care to be an American. Yes, our representatives our corrupt; but, does that mean we should be like them? They have no respect for the leaders of our country. Which is why most young americans have no respect for anyone…except maybe themselves; which is a waste of respect.
Maybe my vote doesn’t make a difference but I say if you want to sell your vote then sell then move to Iraq, China, somewhere that you can see what it’s really like not to have a say.
I am so sick of Americans trashing America….if you don’t like it…LEAVE…I wish they would start doing airplane shuttels to China, Iraq and send out those who don’t care anymore….you think your rights are being taken away…you haven’t a clue how lucky we are to live in America.
So, the guy goes to jail which he probably won’t just probation….allot of countries he would probably just be executed…..

Yeah - you know what else is dumb? Laws against:
- talking on your cell phone while driving
- texting while driving
- shooting off guns in public, like on the 4th of July
- etc and so on.

I can’t believe so of you, even the author, support the selling of votes?

@76: What do you think lobbying groups were created for? Same concept, different set of people.

I’ll agree that he shouldn’t have sold his vote, but to be honest, it is his vote to sell. However, you also have to watch out for those really obscure laws that nobody knows about anymore (and hardly ever prosecutes). A case like this can and should be fought to obliterate the law as it is out of date by 100 years.

I’ll also agree, this is a waste of government resources and the prosecutors are either very bored, media hungry, or just plain inadequate for their current positions.

In short, I hate it when people in high places try to make examples of people to prove their own points. It would be nice if one these people just came out and stated their views instead of trying to ruin somebody’s life.

@11 - “Failing”?

Not really. Our educational system is doing an absolutely wonderful job of keeping the masses uneducated and uninformed, thus ensuring that those in power will remain in power - because the people simply don’t know any better.

And I thought to see it only here in Brazil… people sell it´s vote for a R$ 100 (less than US$ 40)…

@ Chris, what’s with the Canada-bashing all the time? If you seriously think that Canadian politicians are more likely to buy votes than their U.S. counterparts, you need to do your homework. Canadian political leaders can’t be voted for directly, unlike in the U.S.

Absurd? What if George Bush bought a 100 million votes so McCain could become president? Frankly, this blog should stay away from politics because it seems have very little expertise in the subject.

Is the subject to this post sarcastic? It says selling one’s vote is wrong, but apparently you consider it kind of funny and (hopefully) joke about doing it yourself in protest? In protest of what? The fact that law is being enforced?

Any one with common sense could assume this was a bad idea, saying the kid didn’t know the law is an excuse would be ridiculous. Ignorance of law is not considered an excuse, and I certainly have no sympathy in the case when it’s an obviously wrong and stupid idea.

Hm.

If I give away my vote for a sandwich because I’m hungry, does that count as selling it? Or is it more like bartering?

People come up with the argument that the richest will win the election if vote can be sold. Where’s the proof to this? The people who say that, will you sell your vote? If you don’t, don’t be a hypocrite and think everyone else will.

The reason why I don’t vote is because it takes time for me to go vote. Why don’t they pay people to go vote so there will be more people voting!!! The fact that people have to pay gas, go to the poll, etc. costs money. And the candidates on the ballot all suck, and you expect people to spend time and money to vote?!?

I believe in just compensation for people’s effort and time. There’s no free lunch from me.

And people who say it’s a civic duty to vote. No it is not. People vote because they care who’s going to be president, I don’t care who’s going to be president. The only time when I care is when people who in power trash the Constitution. I will use my 2nd amendment to protect the Constitution.

That is all.

So “Selling” your vote is wrong, but “Buying” your vote (i.e Economic Stimulus Package) is OK?

@85 Stop being lazy and do some homework yourself. There may not be proof in the US, but there are certainly plenty of evidences around the world both at this moment and in the post. Just read some of the comments as a start.

You know what, I am glad you don’t vote… let’s keep it that way.

Michael, you are missing the point.

“Just to be clear to Doug and others who are being intentionally dense, the ridiculous part of this story is the fact that we are spending government resources to prosecute him. kids do stupid things, like try to sell their vote on ebay. this is being prosecuted to get media attention to a few individuals.”

We pay law enforcement to prosecute people who break laws - not decide which ones are too ridiculous to enforce. As for getting media attention…you don’t complain when they capture a murderer and drop a press release do you? You are a hypocrite!

Let’s say 2% of the electorate decided that they would sell their votes in 2008 and either McCain, Obama, Barr, or Nader bought them? Wouldn’t that be enough to throw the election in one direction or another? I doubt this is what the framers had in mind.

An apologist/protest post for exchanging your vote for $$$? Seriously?

Wow.

Michael, post the link to your ebay vote!, looking forward to seeing and hearing about your own court hearing.

It is pointless to sell your vote due to the fact that the goverment has allready decieded who the next president for the next 50 years will be. Democracy at its finest!

I lost interest after about half way through, seemed to be a lot of repeating the same thing over and over again.

How about, no matter what you feel on the issue of selling or buying a vote you stop and think about the last two decades of our wonderful country, and the corruption and ‘vote buying/selling’ process that has been out there in the open for all of us to see for so long.

How about you stop and think about how our freedoms have been slowly taken away from us over the last decade. Freedom of expression/speech ring a bell with anyone?

In my opinion, he was doing nothing more than the protestors do outside voting centers. He was simply making a bold statement about his feelings on what our country has become. Nobody bid on his vote, so no crime was commited period. He did not sell his vote, and even if he had but not accepted the money or refunded it then again, no crime was committed.

I will also be posting my vote, not that I would sell it or even give it away as there really is no point in that anyhow. Our votes have not counted for some time now, that is a fact that all of us must face eventually. I will be doing it as a protest as well, and to hopefully get a message out there.

The simply truth is that as much as all of us love this country, and I myself have very proudly served this country in the US Navy, our country is not what it used to be or what it is was meant to be.

If you do not like the comments and expressions made by others, for those of you that said you would not be returning to this blog. Then my advice to you is to go to another country, one that has no freedom of expression at all, while we have lost allot of ours at least we can still freely discuss issues such as this.

It is time for a change in this country, but blogging is not the way to make that change happen. We must demand that our government follow the core values that we have worked so hard to have. And we must start to stand up for a change, stop being driven by fear and MAKE our vote count!

Congressmen sell votes to lobbyists.