Elon Musk’s announcement of a $1 million daily cash giveaway to registered voters has sparked significant controversy, with election law experts warning that the initiative may violate federal regulations. This bold move, made during a campaign event for former President Donald Trump, aims to increase voter registration in key battleground states but raises serious legal and ethical concerns.
Musk’s Ambitious Plan
During a campaign rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on October 17, 2024, Musk revealed his plan to award $1 million each day to registered voters who support a petition promoting First and Second Amendment rights. The petition, initiated by Musk’s political action committee, is directed at registered voters in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.
Musk emphasized the goal of reaching over a million voters to garner support for the petition, encouraging attendees to motivate others to register and vote. He stated, “This is a one-time ask… Just go out there and talk to your friends and family and acquaintances and people you meet in the street and … convince them to vote.”
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Legal Concerns Emerge
Critics quickly voiced concerns about the legality of Musk’s giveaway. Federal law prohibits anyone from offering payments for voter registration or voting, with violations potentially leading to up to five years in prison. Following the announcement, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called the giveaway “deeply concerning,” noting that it could attract law enforcement scrutiny.
Derek Muller, an election law expert at Notre Dame, highlighted that limiting the giveaway to registered voters raises significant bribery concerns. “When you start limiting prizes or giveaways to only registered voters… it looks like you’re giving cash for voter registration,” Muller explained. He emphasized that the initiative could be seen as an attempt to incentivize new voter registrations, which may further complicate its legality.
Experts Weigh In
David Becker, a former Justice Department official, strongly condemned Musk’s actions, stating that the giveaway was precisely the type of conduct the law aims to prevent. He argued that the timing of the offer, which coincides with voter registration deadlines, suggests a clear intent to influence the election outcome.
Rick Hasen, an election law expert at UCLA, also criticized the initiative, labeling it as “clearly illegal vote-buying.” He noted that the Justice Department’s guidelines explicitly deem it illegal to offer lottery chances intended to induce voter registration actions.
In response to mounting criticism, Musk’s group attempted to reframe the giveaway, stating that winners would be “selected to earn $1M as a spokesperson for America PAC.” However, both Muller and Becker indicated that this rebranding likely does not mitigate the legal issues, as the lottery still targets only registered voters.
Reactions from Officials
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joined the chorus of criticism, accusing Musk of spreading “dangerous disinformation” about voter integrity. This comment followed Musk’s unfounded claim that Michigan had more voters than citizens, further complicating the situation surrounding his campaign efforts.
