HARRISBURG: Elon Musk made headlines once again by giving away a second $1 million check to a registered voter in Pennsylvania on Sunday. This move is part of Musk’s ongoing efforts to rally support for Donald Trump ahead of the upcoming election.
Musk, through America PAC—a pro-Trump political group—is offering $1 million each day until November 5th, the day of the election, to random registered voters who sign a petition pledging their support for gun rights and free speech. The campaign is primarily focused on key swing states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. The first two $1 million checks have already been awarded to voters in Pennsylvania.
Legal Questions Arise
The legality of Musk’s actions has raised eyebrows. Title 52 of the United States Code, Section 10307(b), prohibits any attempts to intimidate or coerce voters. Additionally, Title 18, Section 597, addresses illegal expenditures to influence voting, stating that anyone offering or receiving money to vote or withhold their vote can face fines or imprisonment.
The confusion stems from the fact that Musk’s offer requires voters to sign a petition rather than directly influencing their vote, which complicates the situation. Rick Hasen, a professor at UCLA’s law school, noted that this approach is “clearly illegal,” as it targets only registered voters in swing states.
America PAC’s Campaign
This isn’t Musk’s first financial initiative to support Trump. Previously, he promised $100 to each individual who signed the petition. Musk has also donated over $75 million to America PAC, which has been used to fund targeted advertisements in swing states, particularly aimed at Muslim and Jewish voters in Michigan and Pennsylvania.
The ads targeted Muslim voters by suggesting that Vice President Kamala Harris supports Israel, while those targeting Jewish voters claimed she supports Palestine—an effort to sway opinions and votes in these critical states.
