During a recent campaign event for former President Donald Trump, tech billionaire Elon Musk made headlines by announcing a daily $1 million giveaway to registered voters in battleground states. This move immediately raised concerns among election law experts who pointed out potential violations of laws against paying individuals to register to vote.
Musk stated that the purpose of the giveaway was to encourage support for the First and Second Amendments by urging voters in battleground states to sign a petition. The sweepstakes, which is open to registered voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina, will continue until the election.
As the richest man in the world and a significant donor to a pro-Trump super PAC, Musk's actions have sparked controversy. While he hopes the giveaway will boost voter registration among Trump supporters, critics have raised legal concerns about the offer.
Notably, federal law prohibits the exchange of money for voter registration or voting, with potential penalties including up to five years in prison. Election law experts have highlighted the potential bribery concerns associated with limiting giveaways to registered voters or incentivizing new registrations.
Despite the unlikelihood of Musk facing prosecution, experts have strongly condemned his actions, labeling the giveaway as illegal vote-buying. The timing of the offer, just before registration deadlines in some states, has raised suspicions about its intent to influence the election.
In response to Musk's actions, Democratic officials such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson have criticized him for spreading disinformation and potentially undermining the integrity of the electoral process.
While Musk's $1 million voter giveaway has garnered attention, it has also ignited a debate about the boundaries of permissible campaign tactics and the need to uphold the integrity of the electoral system.
