Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul and Trump supporter, is making headlines with a controversial $1 million daily giveaway to Pennsylvania residents who sign his America PAC petition.
The petition supports the Constitution, focusing on the First and Second Amendments, specifically freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. The sweepstakes, running until November 5, has already awarded two winners with $1 million each, but it’s raising concerns among election law experts and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
At an event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Musk made the announcement, presenting a giant check to the first winner and promising a new millionaire each day leading up to the election.
Musk stated that the goal of the sweepstakes is to raise awareness about the petition supporting constitutional rights. Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, is seeing intense campaigning from both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
However, the giveaway is facing scrutiny from election law professionals. Governor Shapiro, a Harris surrogate and former Pennsylvania attorney general, expressed concern during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press.
“It does raise serious questions,” Shapiro said, calling for potential law enforcement investigation.
Election law experts like UCLA professor Richard Hasen argue that the sweepstakes could be illegal under federal law. “If you look at the conditions, you must be a registered voter,” Hasen pointed out.
He explained that offering financial rewards tied to voter registration or participation violates statute 52 U.S.C. 10307(c), which prohibits incentivizing voting or voter registration through monetary rewards.
Hasen considers Musk’s actions a violation of federal law, as it could change how and why people vote by introducing a financial incentive.
Hasen emphasized that voting should be a free choice, not driven by financial motivations. The Department of Justice’s election manual and federal law both seek to ensure that voters are not swayed by personal financial gain when deciding to register or cast their ballots.
Despite these concerns, Musk’s America PAC has not responded to questions about the legality of the giveaway.
The sweepstakes comes just days before Pennsylvania’s voter registration deadline, adding urgency to the debate.
Although there is a potential fine of up to $10,000 and a five-year prison sentence for willful violations of 52 U.S.C. 10307(c), Hasen noted that such consequences are unlikely unless Musk continues the sweepstakes after being warned about its illegality.
As Pennsylvania remains a critical swing state, Musk’s initiative is drawing attention not only for its potential legal issues but also for its impact on voter behavior.
Both Trump and Harris are campaigning heavily in the state, where every vote counts. With Election Day approaching and questions surrounding Musk’s actions still unanswered, the controversy adds a new layer of complexity to the already heated political atmosphere in Pennsylvania.
