Elon Musk offers $47 incentive for swing state voters to sign petition. Is it legal?

A POLITICAL PETITION WITH FINANCIAL INCENTIVE.

ELON MUSK IS ASKING HIS FOLLOWERS ON X TO SIGN A PETITION TO SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

A PETITION STARTED BY “AMERICA SUPER PAC” – A PRO-TRUMP GROUP FOUNDED BY ELON MUSK.

MUSK ADDED “EARN 47 DOLLARS FOR EVERY PERSON YOU REFER TO SIGN THE PETITION IF THEY’RE IN A SWING STATE.

GOAL IS TO GET ONE MILLION VOTERS IN SWING STATES TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR FREE SPEECH AND RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.”

FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS ANYONE FROM PAYING OR OFFERING TO PAY SOMEONE TO VOTE OR REGISTER TO VOTE –

BUT IT IS LEGAL TO PAY PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO VOTE.

IT’S ALSO LEGAL TO COMPENSATE PEOPLE WHO GATHER SIGNATURES FOR PETITIONS.

THOUGH IN SOME STATES IT’S ILLEGAL FOR CAMPAIGNS TO PAY SOMEONE BASED ON HITTING A TARGET NUMBER OF SIGNATURES.

THE AMERICA PAC IS BASED IN TEXAS –

WHERE THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC LAWS ABOUT “PAY-PER-SIGNATURE” COMPENSATION –

MAKING ELON’S FINANCIAL INCENTIVE LEGALLY VALID IN GARNERING MORE SIGNATURES.

HERE’S A LOOK AT THE PETITION –

DESCRIBED ONLY AS “PLEDGING” ONE’S “SUPPORT FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND AMENDMENTS” –

FREE SPEECH AND RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.

THE PETITION IS ONLY OPEN TO REGISTERED VOTERS IN SWING STATES –

AND THE LINE FOR THE 47 DOLLAR REFERRAL CREDIT IS RIGHT ABOVE THE “SIGN PETITION” PORTION.

THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE WOULD COST THE AMERICA SUPER PAC MORE THAN 23 MILLION DOLLARS IF HALF OF ITS “1 MILLION SIGNATURE GOAL” COMES FROM REFERRALS.

This push comes at a crucial time as the campaigns for former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris ramp up in these battleground states. 

Recent polls show a tight race, with Harris leading Trump by just 3.4 percentage points, 49.8% to TRUMP’S 46.4%.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – I’M KARAH RUCKER.