Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro criticized Elon Musk’s plan to give $1 million per day to registered voters who signed a petition in favor of free speech and the right to bear arms, calling it “deeply concerning.” The super PAC organized by Musk has made signing the petition a requirement for attending his rallies, leading to questions about the legality of the cash prizes. Election law experts, including law professor Rick Hasen, have pointed out that federal law prohibits making cash payments to voters. Hasen stated that creating a lottery where only registered voters are eligible to participate could be considered illegal under these laws. While it is unclear if federal authorities are investigating the situation, Hasen mentioned that they have the option to prosecute Musk or issue a warning to stop the payments. The intent behind election laws prohibiting bribery is to prevent the buying of votes, whether it is to incentivize people to register or vote, or to reward them. Shapiro emphasized that his skepticism of the cash prizes is based on concerns about the influx of money into politics, rather than political differences with Musk. Neither Musk nor a representative for America PAC, which organized the super PAC, have provided comment on the situation. Ultimately, the legality and ethical implications of Musk’s lottery payments to registered voters will likely continue to be scrutinized and could potentially lead to legal action.
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