Same-sex marriage ballots being sold online for hundreds

Ballots for the upcoming Australian postal vote on same sex marriage are being sold online for up to $1,500.

Although the survey forms won’t be posted out until September 7, sellers have begun taking to sites such as Gumtree and eBay to auction off their forms.

It come just a day after it was announced plans for a postal vote would go ahead, with the High Court dismissing two challenges.

Ballots for the upcoming Australian postal vote on same sex marriage are being sold online for up to $1,500 (stock photo)

One paper was listed on Gumtree Friday by Zaky Mallah, with an asking price of $600, according to Buzzfeed.

‘I am selling (or I can tick yes or no without selling) my SSM voting postal paper to the yes or no campaigners,’ the ad read.

‘I love my straight and gay friends equally. So I am sitting on the fence with this one. Hence, the paper is up for grabs.  

The listing generated interest with Mallah saying he had received offers on it before it was deleted for failing to meet the site’s posting guidelines.

It follows another advertisement on eBay by user ‘Garistides,’ who asked $1,500 for the chance to ‘buy my vote’.

The user wrote in their description they were selling their vote because ‘either way I don’t care but there are people who do’.

One paper was listed on Gumtree Friday by Zaky Mallah, who asked $600 for the chance after stating they had decided not to take part 'out of respect for both sides' (pictured)

One paper was listed on Gumtree Friday by Zaky Mallah, who asked $600 for the chance after stating they had decided not to take part ‘out of respect for both sides’ (pictured)

Another advertisement appeared on eBay by user 'Garistides,' who asked $1,500 for the chance to 'buy my vote' (pictured)

Another advertisement appeared on eBay by user ‘Garistides,’ who asked $1,500 for the chance to ‘buy my vote’ (pictured)

They also stated that part of the funds if it was sold would go to ‘help kids battling cancer.’

The posting was also taken down by the site, with a spokesperson confirming to the ABC that actions had been taken.

‘eBay has active processes in place to filter for issues like this,’ they said. 

The Australian Bureau of Statistics have since contacted online marketplaces, including additional sites Amazon, Alibaba and Facebook, to prevent further sales.

They stated that the sale of such papers could be an offence which may lead to a fine of $2,100 or one years imprisonment.  

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released a statement saying the sale of the papers would be an offence, which could result in a one year imprisonment (stock photo)

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released a statement saying the sale of the papers would be an offence, which could result in a one year imprisonment (stock photo)

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk