US billionaires support various candidates as campaigns intensify. Musk’s plans to give away $1 million to voters who sign his free-speech and gun-rights petition. This raises questions about election laws. Some legal experts disagree on whether this giveaway breaks federal rules against paying people to register to vote. Musk, a supporter of Donald Trump, promises to give $1 million each day to a randomly chosen person who signs his online petition. This petition supports the First and Second Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
Only registered voters in seven swing states can sign the petition: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Daniel Weiner from the Brennan Center for Justice stated, “There is certainly an argument that this falls within the scope of a federal prohibition on paying a person to vote or register to vote.” He noted that Musk often pushes the limits of election laws.
Opinions vary among legal experts. Brad Smith, a professor at Capital University Law School and former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, believes Musk is likely following the law. He says that signing the petition is different enough from registering to vote. Therefore, the giveaway doesn’t count as payment for a specific action.
However, critics worry that Musk’s giveaway could influence the election between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Musk’s America PAC aims to mobilize voters in these key states. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called the giveaway “deeply concerning” and urged an investigation. Richard Hasen, a law professor at UCLA, believes the initiative could be illegal because of its timing and focus on battleground states. (Reuters)
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