A student at the University of Minnesota is being charged with trying to sell his vote on eBay.

Max Sanders has told investigators it was a joke, but they're not amused. He's being charged under an 1893 state law that makes it a crime to offer to buy or sell a vote.

Sanders' eBay ad asked for a minimum $10 in exchange for voting for the winning bidder's choice for president in November, adding, "Good luck! Your country depends on you!"

As it turns out, nobody bid.

A spokesman for the Minnesota secretary of state's office says they take the eBay offering "very seriously." He says he can imagine the conversations being held in American Legion Clubs and VFWs about whether it's a joke or not.