Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, has stirred controversy with his latest political move. Musk, who has openly supported former President Donald Trump, has pledged to give away $1 million a day to voters who sign his political action committee's petition supporting the First and Second Amendments of the Constitution. This move has raised concerns among election experts who believe it may be a violation of the law to link a cash handout to petition signing, especially when it requires voter registration.
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania has expressed his concerns about Musk's plan, calling it deeply concerning. He highlighted issues with how money is being spent in the election race, particularly in Pennsylvania, where Musk's PAC is actively campaigning to register voters in support of Trump.
Musk's America PAC has been offering cash incentives to encourage voter registration and petition signing. However, some election law experts have raised red flags about the legality of the giveaway. Brendan Fischer, a campaign finance lawyer, pointed out that conditioning the payments on voter registration may violate the law that prohibits paying people for registering to vote or for voting.
While Trump has endorsed Musk's efforts and praised him as a friend of the country, critics are questioning the legality and ethics of the giveaway. Michael Kang, an election law professor, raised concerns about the timing of the giveaway so close to Election Day, suggesting that it may be seen as incentivizing people to register to vote. The Justice Department has been contacted for comment on the matter.
Overall, Musk's cash giveaway to voters for signing his PAC's petition supporting the Constitution has sparked debate and scrutiny from election experts and politicians alike. The legality and ethical implications of such a move remain under question as the race for the White House heats up.