The first lottery-style check was given away to a surprised attendee at a town hall event on Saturday night.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has announced he will give away $1 million (Sh129,116,892) each day to a registered voter in the key swing state of Pennsylvania until the U.S. presidential election in November.
Winners will be selected at random from those who sign a pro-constitution petition organized by Musk’s campaign group, AmericaPAC, which supports Republican nominee Donald Trump’s bid for re-election.
The first check was handed out at a town hall event on Saturday night, leaving the recipient visibly surprised. This initiative is aimed at encouraging potential Trump voters to engage in the campaign during the critical final weeks leading up to the election on November 5.
However, Musk’s proposal has raised significant legal questions. Prominent election law expert Rick Hasen stated on his Election Law Blog that he believes Musk’s offer is “clearly illegal.” Under federal law, anyone who “pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting” could face penalties, including fines of up to $10,000 or a five-year prison sentence.
While Musk is inviting Pennsylvania voters to sign a petition, Hasen expressed skepticism about the intent behind this strategy. He pointed out that the petition can only be signed by registered voters in swing states, which he argues makes the move illegal.
Those who sign the petition, which endorses free speech and gun rights, must provide personal contact information. This enables AmericaPAC to follow up with them regarding their voting intentions.
Political campaigns and action committees often use tactics like petition signing, surveys, and merchandise sales to gather large databases of voter information. This data can help them better target potential supporters and fundraise from their base.
Previously, Musk offered $47 to anyone who got a registered swing-state voter to sign the petition. This approach raised eyebrows among campaign finance experts, although it may be seen as falling into a legal gray area since no direct payments were offered for voting.
In the U.S., it is illegal to provide payments to incentivize voting—whether for a specific candidate or simply to cast a ballot. A similar situation in 2008 led ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s to provide free products to all voters on Election Day after initially planning to limit the offer to those with “I voted” stickers.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat supporting Kamala Harris, described Musk’s strategy as “deeply concerning” during an appearance on NBC News’ Meet the Press, suggesting that law enforcement should investigate the payments.
Musk, a prominent Trump supporter in recent years, launched AmericaPAC in July with the goal of bolstering the former president’s campaign. He has contributed $75 million (£57.5 million) to the group, which has become a pivotal player in Trump’s election efforts.
AmericaPAC’s website outlines its primary values: Secure Borders, Safe Cities, Sensible Spending, a Fair Justice System, Free Speech, and the Right to Self-Protection.
Musk stated his ambition is to gather “over a million, maybe two million, voters in battleground states” to sign the petition supporting the First and Second Amendments. He believes this sends an essential message to elected officials.
Currently, Musk is recognized as the world’s richest man, with an estimated net worth of $248 billion (£191 billion), according to Forbes.
The outcome of the 2024 presidential race may hinge on several battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada.
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