Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, has pledged to give away $1 million a day to voters for signing his political action committee's petition supporting the First and Second Amendments until the Nov. 5 election. Musk's America PAC is touring Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state, to register voters in support of Republican Donald Trump, whom Musk has endorsed.
The giveaway has raised concerns among election experts who argue that linking a cash handout to signing a petition may violate the law, as it requires individuals to be registered to vote. Some experts have pointed out that conditioning the payments on voter registration could be illegal under current laws.
Despite these concerns, Trump, who has been campaigning in Pennsylvania, expressed his support for Musk, calling him a friend and a great asset to the country. However, some experts are questioning the legality of the giveaway, especially given its proximity to Election Day.
The issue revolves around the requirement for individuals to be registered to vote in order to be eligible for the cash giveaway. While paying people to sign a petition may not be illegal, the condition of voter registration raises legal concerns. The context of the giveaway so close to the election further complicates the matter, with experts suggesting that it may be seen as incentivizing voter registration.
Questions have also been raised about potential coordination between Musk's PAC and Trump's campaign. While traditionally such coordination was prohibited, a recent opinion by the Federal Election Commission has allowed candidates and super PACs to collaborate in certain circumstances, including voter turnout efforts.
