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

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.

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.

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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.

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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.”