Attempt To Auction Votes Leads To Warning

Fri., Aug. 18, 2000

Compiled From Staff

Attempts by two Washington residents to auction their votes this fall to the highest bidders prompted a warning Thursday from Secretary of State Ralph Munro.

Selling a vote is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine, he said.

The Web site eBay canceled the two auctions after being notified by the state that vote-selling is illegal and promised to block such sales in the future, Munro’s office said in a news release.

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