Tech billionairehas launched a lottery-style election incentive worth $US1 million ($AU1.49 million) per day through a pro-Trump election fund.
To go in the draw to win, voters must sign an online petition by Musk’s pro-Trump political organisation.
Legal experts are concerned Musk is in breach of electoral laws that forbid cash from being used to encourage people to vote.
The Tesla CEO and X owner has also announced cash incentives for people who successfully recruit others to sign the petition. However, they must be registered voters of one of seven key U.S. states to receive the payment.
Election funds
Election candidates in the U.S. rely heavily on political donations to fund their campaigns.
This can include things like ads on social media, TV, and radio, as well as staff, hiring rally venues and travel costs.
Donations above $200 are made public.
However, individuals are capped at giving a maximum $3,300 donation to a presidential candidate during a general election.
Due to this cap, many
PACs are organisations that pool together donations from members and direct these funds towards political campaigns.
They are often run by businesses and unions. Some types of PACs have no limit on how much money can be raised.
There are strict rules banning individual candidates from attempting to influence a PAC.
Musk – who Forbes estimates is worth almost $US250 billion ($AU372 billion) – set up “America PAC” to support Donald Trump’s re-election efforts, after endorsing him in July.
Lottery
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Musk announced plans to give away $1 million per day until election day through his PAC.
In a post to X, he wrote: “Every day, from now through Nov 5, America PAC will be giving away $1M to someone in swing states who signed our petition to support free speech & the right to bear arms!”
Musk has also promised signatories a $47 ($AU70) reward, “for each registered voter you refer that signs this petition.” For registered voters in Pennsylvania, this incentive is $100.
The petition lottery is open to voters in seven swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — where polling shows a tight race between Trump and Harris.
Two winners have already been announced on the PAC’s social media account, displaying photos of both of them receiving large cheques next to Musk.
The petition doesn’t explicitly mention Trump.
Legal issues?
Some laws in the U.S. ban creating financial incentives for voting.
Voting is not compulsory in the U.S.
Underdesigned to avoid “corruption of the election process”, someone could go to jail for five years if they “pay, offer to pay, or accept payment for registering to vote or for voting”.
There are also laws that forbid taking payment to.
Speaking to NBC News, the Democrat Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, called for authorities to investigate the legitimacy of Musk’s petition lottery.
“Musk obviously has a right to express his views,” Shaprio said.
“But when you start flowing this kind of money into politics, I think it raises serious questions”.
The U.S. Department of Justice has not yet publicly commented on the matter.
