Tech billionaire Elon Musk recently made headlines by declaring that all voting should occur “in person,” a statement that starkly contrasts with his past practice of voting by mail. This pronouncement was made during a town hall event in Oaks, Pennsylvania, where Musk is actively campaigning for former President Donald Trump.
Musk’s Stance on Voting
At the town hall, Musk expressed his concerns regarding potential voter fraud and emphasized his preference for paper ballots. “In my opinion, we should have paper ballots only. It should be in-person voting with ID. End of story,” he asserted, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience.
This position comes just a day after Musk promoted a debunked conspiracy theory involving the voting machine company Dominion Voting Systems. During a previous event, he alleged that Dominion was part of a scheme to manipulate elections, a claim the company has vigorously denied.
The Irony of Musk’s Voting History
Despite his recent statements, Musk’s voting history tells a different story. According to California state records obtained by NBC News, he voted by mail in both the 2016 and 2018 general elections. Furthermore, his super PAC, America PAC, is actively encouraging voters to utilize mail-in and absentee ballots for the upcoming November election. In promotional materials, the PAC describes absentee voting as a secure method for supporting Trump. Musk has personally donated nearly $75 million to the super PAC.
Musk’s contradictory stance on mail-in voting raises questions about his credibility. In an email to NBC News in August, he reiterated his opposition to mail-in ballots, claiming they are “an invitation to fraud throughout the world.”
Audience Reactions and Conspiracy Theories
During the town hall, Musk responded to audience concerns about election integrity, particularly regarding allegations of voting irregularities in Georgia. One attendee asked how to ensure votes are tracked accurately, suggesting a database on Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), to monitor the voting process. Musk encouraged those with possible evidence of voter fraud to share it on his platform for verification.
In addition to discussing voting methods, Musk reiterated several unfounded conspiracy theories. He claimed that Democrats are importing immigrants without legal status into swing states to influence elections and asserted that California lacks “meaningful elections.” These statements reflect his increasing engagement with controversial narratives that have gained traction on social media.
Future Implications
Musk’s involvement in politics is poised to grow, as he has scheduled more town hall events in Pennsylvania. During the discussions, he entertained various questions, ranging from business insights to political strategies. When asked about potentially hiring Scott Presler, a conservative activist associated with conspiracy theories, Musk responded affirmatively.
At one point, he even made light of the January 6 Capitol attack during a discussion about unsolved pipe bomb incidents, joking that the perpetrator might be a “federal employee,” which elicited laughter from some audience members. This comment, along with Musk’s repeated promotion of conspiracy theories, has sparked concerns about his influence in shaping political narratives.
