US Justice Department Cautions Elon Musk Over $1M Voter Giveaway Initiative

Photo : Reuters

Elon Musk's America PAC is currently under scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department regarding a $1 million sweepstakes designed to increase voter registrations in pivotal swing states. This inquiry arises from concerns about potential violations of federal law, which strictly prohibits compensating individuals for registering to vote. Musk has shown strong support for former President Donald Trump, committing substantial financial resources to back Trump’s 2024 campaign. The sweepstakes was launched to encourage voter turnout in critical battleground areas.

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The controversy centers on the America PAC’s initial proposal, which promised $1 million prizes to individuals randomly selected from those who signed a petition advocating for the First and Second Amendments. However, eligibility to sign this petition was limited to registered voters in specific swing states, raising questions about the legality of the initiative.

The Justice Department's public integrity section, tasked with addressing potential election law violations, sent a cautionary letter to Musk’s PAC regarding these legal issues. The PAC’s activities have sparked concerns that they might contravene federal election regulations, which clearly state that financial incentives related to voter registration are prohibited.

In response to the growing scrutiny, America PAC revised its promotional strategy shortly after the sweepstakes began. They rebranded the giveaway as a job opportunity, claiming that selected winners would be “chosen to earn $1 million as a spokesperson for America PAC.”

During a campaign event for Trump in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Musk defended the initiative, stating, “We want to try to get over a million, maybe 2 million voters in the battleground states to sign the petition in support of the First and Second Amendment.” He emphasized that the PAC would randomly award $1 million to participants who signed the petition every day until the election.

When questioned about allegations that the sweepstakes aimed to incentivize voter registration among Republicans, Musk clarified that the winners could be from any political affiliation or none at all, asserting that participation did not require individuals to vote.

Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who previously served as the state's attorney general, expressed his concerns regarding the legality of the giveaway, suggesting it warranted a thorough legal investigation. Musk responded to Shapiro’s comments, expressing his discontent with the governor's remarks, calling it "concerning that he would say such a thing."