Voters who referred a friend to sign Elon Musk's petition once earned , but now Musk is increasing the stakes, offering M payouts.

Reuters

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

U.S. Elections

Pa. governor, Elon Musk clash over $1 million voter petition payouts

Monday

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

A petition initiated by Elon Musk’s super PAC “America” is seeking signatures from registered voters in swing states in support of the First and Second Amendments of the Constitution. Voters who referred a friend to sign the petition once earned $47, but now Musk is increasing the stakes.

Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™

Kristine was today’s recipient of the $1 MILLION for signing our petition to support the Constitution

Every day until Election Day, a registered swing state voter who signs the petition will be selected to earn $1M as a spokesperson for America PAC

SIGN: https://t.co/TMeyWUhbrH pic.twitter.com/1mqkJ2rmvS
— America (@america) October 21, 2024

From now until Election Day, one petition signer from a swing state will win $1 million each day. Several winners have already been announced at a town hall meeting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

John received $1 MILLION for signing America PAC’s petition to support Free Speech & Right to Bear Arms

Every day from now until Election Day, one registered swing state voter who signs the petition will be selected to earn $1 MILLION

SIGN HERE: https://t.co/TMeyWUhbrH pic.twitter.com/UsyTt3V77r
— America (@america) October 20, 2024

Registered voters in Pennsylvania who sign the petition before midnight on Monday, Oct. 21, can receive $100. Those who refer someone else can earn an additional $100.

Musk’s super PAC is fully funded by the billionaire, according to SEC filings. The PAC spent $72 million between July and September 2024.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Some are questioning the legality of Musk’s tactic to pay petitioners, who must be registered voters in swing states. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was asked about the financial incentive.

“I think there are real questions about how he is spending money in this race, how this dark money is flowing, not only into Pennsylvania but into the pockets of Pennsylvanians, and that is deeply concerning,” he said. “When you start flowing this kind of money into politics, I think it raises serious questions folks may want to take a look at.”

Concerning that he would say such a thing https://t.co/BBbH6gjUPP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 20, 2024

Musk reacted to Shapiro’s comments by posting a clip on X with the caption “Concerning that he would say such a thing.”

Whether Musk’s actions are legal is debated among legal scholars. Some argue that since the petition is exclusive to registered voters, the financial incentives could indirectly be paying individuals to register to vote, which is illegal.

However, other legal scholars contend that compensating people for signing petitions is not against the law.

Richard Hasen, an election-law legal scholar, told The Wall Street Journal Musk “may well have crossed the line.” He likened the inducement to fast-food chains offering free food to people wearing “I voted” stickers. Both, he told the Journal, could be construed as illegal.

Bradley Smith, a former Federal Election Commission chairman, told the Journal the inducement is too indirect to be illegal.

“My inclination would be to say he’s not paying them to register to vote,” Smith said. “It’s too attenuated. Most of the benefits are going to people already registered to vote.”

Tags: 2024 Elections, Donald Trump, Election, Elon Musk, presidential election, Voter registration, Voting

WE FIRST TOLD YOU ABOUT A PETITION STARTED BY ELON MUSK’S SUPER PAC –

ASKING REGISTERED VOTERS IN SWING STATES TO SIGN THEIR NAME IN SUPPORT OF THE FIRST AND SECOND AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION.

BY REFERRING A FRIEND – YOU GOT 47 BUCKS.

BUT NOW – MUSK IS RAISING THE STAKES.

EVERY DAY FROM HERE UNTIL ELECTION DAY –

ONE PETITION SIGNER FROM A SWING STATE WILL WIN A MILLION BUCKS.

THERE’S ALREADY BEEN A FEW WINNERS –

ANNOUNCED BY MUSK AT A TOWN HALL IS HARRISBURG PENNSYLVANIA.

“Actually meeting elon, i forgot about the money for a little bit because he’s such an influential figure.”

“Pennsylvania, everyone needs to get out and vote early.”

“Hearing my name called was the surprise of a lifetime, so exciting, i don’t win things and to win a million dollars is crazy.”

{VO} (show the portion of the petition with the pennsylvania alert and form to fill out below it)

IF YOU’RE A REGISTERED VOTER IN PENNSYLVANIA AND YOU SIGN THE PETITION BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON MONDAY –

YOU GET A HUNDRED DOLLARS. REFER SOMEONE? GET ANOTHER HUNDRED BUCKS.

MUSK’S SUPER PAC CALLED “AMERICA” IS FULLY FUNDED BY THE BILLIONAIRE ACCORDING TO SEC FILINGS.

THE PAC SPENT 72 MILLION DOLLARS BETWEEN JULY AND SEPTEMBER.

NOW – SOME ARE QUESTIONING THE LEGALITY OF MUSK’S TACTIC TO PAY PETITIONERS –

WHO HAVE TO LIVE IN A SWING STATE AND BE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

ON NBC’S MEET THE PRESS – THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA WAS ASKED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE.

You are a former attorney general. Is this legal?

“I think there are real questions about how he is spending money in this race, how this dark money is flowing, not only into pennsylvania but into the pocket of pennsylvanians, that is deeply concerning.”

“When you start flowing this kind of money into politics i think it raises serious questions folks may want to take a look at.”

ELON MUSK POSTED THE CLIP ON X –

REACTING TO THE SHAPIRO’S COMMENTS –

SAYING “CONCERNING THAT HE WOULD SAY SUCH A THING.”

WHETHER MUSK IS FOLLOWING THE LAW OR BREAKING IT BY PAYING PETITIONERS – DEPENDS ON THE LEGAL SCHOLAR BEING ASKED.

SOME SAY BECAUSE IT’S A PETITION EXCLUSIVE TO REGISTERED VOTERS –

THE FINANCIAL PAYMENTS COULD INDIRECTLY BE PAYING PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO PAY SOMEONE TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

BUT SOME LEGAL SCHOLARS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE SAY MUSK IS NOT BREAKING ANY LAWS BECAUSE COMPENSATING PEOPLE FOR SIGNING PETITIONS IS **NOT ILLEGAL.

FOR MORE REACTION TO MUSK’S PETITION –

AND A LINK TO THE PETITION ITSELF –

FIND OUR NEWS STORY ON THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS MOBILE APP.

OR VISIT US ONLINE AT SAN DOT COM.