Elon Musk Pledges $1 Million to Petition Supporters Daily – Experts Question Legal Boundaries

Elon Musk made waves with his recent pledge to award $1 million a day to individuals who sign his political action committee's (PAC) petition, which has raised serious legal questions. Musk’s offer was announced during a Pennsylvania town hall meeting and is set to continue until Election Day. 

The catch? Only registered voters who support the First and Second Amendments are eligible for the daily prize. While Musk's supporters see this as an exciting initiative, election law experts warn that the tech mogul could be skirting legal boundaries.

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Musk’s America PAC has launched a voter registration push, primarily targeting battleground states like Pennsylvania, Arizona and Georgia. The petition’s focus is to uphold freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. At the Harrisburg event, Musk handed a $1 million check to John Dreher, the first recipient, urging Dreher to advocate for the petition.

While this financial incentive may energize some voters, election law experts are concerned about the legal implications. Richard Hasen, director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA, told The Associated Press (AP) that offering money linked to voter registration can cross a legal line. 

"The problem is that the only people eligible to participate in this giveaway are the people who are registered to vote. And that makes it illegal," Hasen said.

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Hasen also shared an article on his election law blog highlighting the specifics of U.S. law regarding incentivizing votes, stating that what Musk is doing is "clearly illegal." Election laws prohibit paying people to register or vote and Musk's criteria for awarding the $1 million seems to hinge on precisely that.

Musk’s giveaway follows another controversial effort – offering $100 to each person who refers someone to sign his PAC's petition. Though some saw it as merely promotional, critics argue that it serves as an incentive to influence voter registration ahead of a crucial election. 

Brendan Fischer, a campaign finance attorney, told AP, "There would be few doubts about the legality if every Pennsylvania-based petition signer were eligible, but conditioning the payments on registration arguably violates the law."

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also weighed in, expressing concern over money flow into the state. Shapiro told NBC News, "Musk obviously has a right to be able to express his views. He's made it very, very clear that he supports Donald Trump. I don't. Obviously we have a difference of opinion. I don't deny him that, right, but when you start flowing this kind of money into politics, I think it raises serious questions."

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Musk, who has publicly backed former President Donald Trump, has funneled millions into the 2024 election. Some experts suggest that this latest cash giveaway might be Musk's attempt to sway undecided voters in key swing states, where Trump's campaign could benefit the most from new registrations.

While legal experts debate the finer points of Musk's giveaway, one thing remains clear: it has energized voters across the political spectrum. Some see it as a fresh way to engage the electorate, while others view it as a potential violation of federal election law.

In the coming weeks, scrutiny will likely intensify as watchdogs and election law enforcers examine Musk's actions. Whether his million-dollar-a-day campaign will hold up under legal review remains to be seen. What's certain, however, is that Musk's unorthodox approach to electioneering has added a new level of controversy to an already contentious election cycle.

If you’re concerned about the legality of election giveaways, now might be the time to review the latest election laws or speak with a legal expert.

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