A lengthy joke about cows, sex and women apparently turned out to be no laughing matter in North Carolina this week. It has prompted the resignation of the chairman of the state’s elections board.

Bob Cordle reportedly told the joke Monday before hundreds of elections officials from across the state, many of whom were women. On Tuesday he submitted his resignation to Gov. Roy Cooper, who appointed him earlier this year. Both Cordle and Cooper are Democrats.

“I sincerely apologize to those who heard my joke at the elections conference on Monday and all those affected by my words,” he wrote.

He had said he believed the joke drew “a big laugh” when he told it, Raleigh’s WRAL-TV reported.