Musk's America PAC Awards Third Million-Dollar Prize Amid Legal Controversy

America PAC's Third Million-Dollar Prize

The America PAC, funded by Elon Musk, announced its third daily million-dollar prize on Monday. The prize is part of a petition drive run by the group, which has been facing allegations of illegality. The announcement was made on Musk's social media platform, stating that Shannon Tomei from McKees Rocks, a suburb of Pittsburgh, is the latest recipient of the $1 million prize. Previous winners include John Dreher from Harrisburg and Kristine Fishell from Pittsburgh. The incentive scheme aims to increase petition participation and compile a list of names for the PAC to use in the run-up to Election Day. Until then, the PAC will award $1 million per day to a randomly-selected petition-signer from a swing state.

The Online Petition

The online petition reads, "The First and Second Amendments guarantee freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. By signing below, I am pledging my support for the First and Second Amendments." The main goal appears to be creating a get-out-the-vote list and indirectly promoting voter registration among right-leaning Americans.

Million-Dollar Giveaways

The million-dollar giveaways add excitement to a program that already offered participants a chance to earn money without any element of luck. Until Monday, Oct. 21, America PAC was paying $47 to anyone who referred a registered, swing-state voter to sign the petition. The swing states include Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. Additionally, signers in Pennsylvania and those who referred them were earning $100 each. While the paid petition recruitment has ended, the million-dollar giveaways for swing-state signers will continue until Nov. 5.

Legal Controversy

The promotion has sparked accusations that Musk and his PAC are breaking a federal law that classifies paying someone to register to vote or to vote as bribery. The law stipulates penalties of up to $10,000 and five years in prison. "Lottery chances" are also listed in the prohibitions. However, the America PAC program only paid people for referring registered voters to sign the petition, and the million-dollar prizes are awarded to random, registered petition-signers. While there's no direct reward for registration, there's an indirect incentive. This has led Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to suggest that law enforcement should investigate the matter.

Expert Opinions

Some election law experts believe the program is in a gray area at best, while others, like UCLA Professor Richard Hasen, are calling it clearly illegal. Campaign-finance lawyer Brendan Fischer told the New York Times that the program raises alarms due to the payments being conditioned on registration. However, former Federal Election Commission chairman Brad Smith believes that the focus on the petition gives the PAC a margin of safety, as they're not paying people to register to vote, but to sign a petition.

Impact on Voter Registration

Pennsylvania's voter registration window for 2024 closed recently, with the Republican Party emerging as the clear winner of the cycle. Although registered Democrats still outnumber Republicans in the Keystone State, their lead has fallen from more than 1.2 million in 2008 to below 300,000 today. This is the narrowest gap in nearly 30 years.

Bottom Line

The controversy surrounding Musk's America PAC and its million-dollar giveaways highlights the complex nature of election law and the potential gray areas that can arise. It raises questions about the legality of incentivizing political participation and the potential implications for future campaigns. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you believe the program is illegal, or is it a creative way to encourage political engagement? Share this article with your friends and let us know your thoughts. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.