Jonah Patel
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, has pledged to give away $1 million to voters for signing his political action committee's petition backing the Constitution. Musk's America PAC has launched a tour of Pennsylvania, a critical election battleground state, with the aim of registering voters in support of Donald Trump, whom Musk has endorsed. The PAC is also pushing to persuade voters in other key states. Musk has offered \$47 to all registered voters in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, and \$100 to registered voters in Pennsylvania, for signing a petition that pledges support for the First and Second Amendments. This has raised questions among election experts about the legality of linking a cash handout to signing a petition that requires the signer to be a registered voter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pledges to give away | $1 million a day |
| Purpose | To get 1 million registered voters in swing states to sign in support of the Constitution |
| States included | Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina |
| Expiry date | October 21, 2024 |
| Offer | $47 for each registered voter who signs the petition |
| Offer | $100 for referring others to register and sign the petition |
| Offer | $100 rebate to purchasers of Teslas |
| Legality | Questionable, may be a violation of the law |
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What You'll Learn
Legality of Elon Musk's petition payments
The legality of Elon Musk's petition payments has been a subject of debate, with some election experts and lawyers questioning the legality of the payments. Here is an analysis of the situation:
Background
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, has offered payments to voters for signing his political action committee's (PAC) petition, which pledges support for the Constitution, specifically the First and Second Amendments. The payments vary, with $47 offered to registered voters in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, and $100 offered to registered voters in Pennsylvania. Musk has also stated that he would pay people $100 for referring others to register and sign the petition.
Arguments for Legality
Some commentators argue that the payments are legal because they are technically made for signing the petition, not for registering to vote. The offer is not limited to new registrants, and the majority of people eligible to participate are already registered voters. Therefore, the primary objective of the payments appears to be for signing the petition, which does not violate any federal law. Additionally, it is worth noting that the America PAC is based in Texas, where there are no specific laws prohibiting pay-per-signature compensation.
Arguments Against Legality
However, some election experts and lawyers argue that Musk's actions violate the law by linking cash handouts to signing a petition that requires individuals to be registered voters. Under 52 U.S.C. § 10307(c), it is illegal to pay or offer payment for registration to vote or for voting. While the payment is not explicitly for registering to vote, some argue that it still falls under this statute as a "sham offer," where the payment is formally structured as a payment for signing the petition but is effectively a payment for registering to vote. This interpretation suggests that Musk's actions could be considered illegal vote-buying.
The legality of Elon Musk's petition payments is a complex issue with valid arguments on both sides. While there is no explicit federal law prohibiting the payments, the question of whether the payments can be interpreted as "sham offers" for registering to vote raises concerns about the potential for illegal vote-buying. The specific details of Musk's PAC and the structure of the payments may play a crucial role in determining the legality of the petition payments.
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The petition's support for the First and Second Amendments
Elon Musk has pledged to give away $1 million a day to voters who sign his political action committee's petition backing the Constitution. Musk's PAC is touring Pennsylvania, a critical election battleground state, to register voters in support of Donald Trump, whom Musk has endorsed. The petition specifically supports the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech, and the Second Amendment, which includes the right "to keep and bear arms". Musk has also offered people $47, and then $100, for referring others to register and sign the petition.
Some election experts and lawyers have questioned the legality of Musk's cash giveaway, arguing that it may be a violation of the law to link a cash handout to signing a petition that requires a person to be a registered voter. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania has expressed concern about the plan, stating that there are "real questions" about how Musk is spending money in the race and the flow of "dark money".
Musk's petition appears to be part of a broader effort by his PAC to influence the election in favour of Trump. In addition to the cash incentives for signing the petition, the PAC is also pushing to persuade voters in other key states. Musk has already committed at least $70 million to support Trump's candidacy.
While the specific details of the petition's content are not publicly available, it is clear that it seeks to uphold the First and Second Amendments of the Constitution. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, while the Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. By offering financial incentives, Musk is attempting to rally support for these constitutional rights, particularly among voters in Pennsylvania and other key states.
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Musk's $1 million per day lottery prize for registered voters
In 2024, Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, pledged to give away $1 million per day to registered voters for signing his political action committee's petition backing the Constitution. Musk's America PAC has been on a tour of Pennsylvania, a critical election battleground, with the aim of registering voters in support of Donald Trump's presidential candidacy, whom Musk has endorsed. Musk has also offered people $47 and then $100 for referring others to register and sign the petition.
Musk's $1 million giveaway has raised questions and concerns among election experts and Democratic politicians, who argue that it is a violation of the law to link a cash handout to signing a petition that requires a person to be a registered voter. Some have called it a form of "vote-buying" and "illegal lottery". However, Musk's lawyers have argued that the recipients of the money are not winning a random lottery but are being paid as spokespeople.
In 2025, Musk's political action committee, America First, offered $100 to voters who signed a petition against "activist judges" in Wisconsin, with an additional $1 million award. This was similar to a lottery that Musk's committee ran in Wisconsin and other battleground states before the 2024 presidential election. The payment was awarded to a Green Bay man, as announced by Musk on his social media platform, X.
While the legality of Musk's actions is debated, it is clear that his involvement in the political landscape and his substantial financial contributions are having a significant impact on elections and the discourse surrounding them.
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Musk's $47 payment for each registered voter referral
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, has pledged to give away $1 million to voters for signing his political action committee's petition backing the Constitution. Musk's Super PAC is offering $47 to those who help it find Trump voters. The goal is "to get 1 million registered voters in swing states to sign in support of the Constitution, especially freedom of speech and the right to bear arms". Musk's Twitter account, now known as X, has been used to promote the pro-Constitution petition, swing-state voter registration, and the $47 offer.
The PAC website displays posts from conservative accounts and advertises paid positions to help increase voter registration and turnout in swing states. Musk has also offered people $47, and then $100, for referring others to register and sign the petition. The PAC's website previously collected personal data from users under the guise of voter registration, only to direct them to complete the process if they were in a swing state.
The program, which expired on October 21, only applies to registered voters in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, or North Carolina. Musk's Super PAC is circulating a petition in which voters pledge their support for the First and Second Amendments. The petition includes no other call to action except for promising a $47 payment to those who successfully share it with registered swing-state voters and sign it.
Some election law experts have raised concerns about the legality of Musk's giveaway. However, Dr. Richard Hasen, a professor at UCLA School of Law and an NBC News election law analyst, believes that Musk has not broken any campaign finance laws and is within his free speech rights to steer X in a political direction, as long as he discloses his connections with Trump.
Musk's endorsement of Donald Trump
To sign up for Elon Musk's Constitution petition, you can refer to his post on X (formerly Twitter) where he has offered people $47 and then $100 for referring others to register and sign the petition. Musk's America PAC has also launched a tour of Pennsylvania, a critical election battleground, where he aims to register voters in support of Trump.
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, officially endorsed Donald Trump for President of the United States on July 13, 2024. This endorsement came shortly after Trump survived an assassination attempt. Musk has committed at least $70 million to support the former president's campaign and has also launched a PAC (political action committee) to back the Constitution and register voters in support of Trump.
Musk's support for Trump is likely due to their shared interest in space exploration and the potential for Musk to have influence over space policy in a second Trump administration. Musk has made groundbreaking contributions to the space industry and has ambitions to make humanity a multi-planetary species, starting with the colonization of Mars. Trump's space policy during his first term also focused on space exploration, with the creation of the Space Force and the prioritization of the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon.
While both men value the private sector's involvement in space, they differ in their approaches. Musk, through SpaceX, has pushed for cost reduction, innovation, and rapid iteration in space technology, achieving major milestones in commercial spaceflight. In contrast, Trump's approach emphasized near-Earth and near-term milestones, such as returning Americans to the Moon, and asserting U.S. leadership in space.
Despite their differences, a Trump-Musk partnership could significantly shape the future of U.S. space exploration and defense, with Musk potentially advocating for more deregulation of space activities. It remains to be seen if Trump will offer Musk an official position in his administration, but their shared interests and Musk's financial backing make this a possibility.
Frequently asked questions
Elon Musk's America PAC website allows registered voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina to sign the petition. You can also refer registered voters to sign the petition and receive $47 for each referral.
Yes, you need to be a registered voter to sign the petition. Musk's PAC has offered $47 to all registered voters in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, and $100 to registered voters in Pennsylvania.
Musk's petition is in a legal grey area. While payments for petition-signing violate no federal law, some experts argue that Musk is paying people to register to vote, which is illegal.
