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Tech billionaire Elon Musk has announced a give away of $1 million a day to registered voters in key swing states leading up to the US presidential election on November 5. 



The cash is part of a lottery-style giveaway aimed at incentivizing voter registration through Musk&#8217;s campaign group, AmericaPAC, which supports Republican nominee Donald Trump’s bid for re-election.



The first checks were handed out during a town hall event in Pennsylvania over the weekend, with winners chosen at random from individuals who sign a pro-US Constitution petition. 



The contest is open to voters in pivotal states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.



However, the initiative has drawn sharp criticism. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, described Musk’s strategy as &#8220;deeply concerning&#8221; and suggested that law enforcement should investigate the legality of the payments.



Election law expert Rick Hasen expressed skepticism about the legality of Musk&#8217;s offer on his Election Law Blog, asserting that it appears to violate federal laws prohibiting payment for voter registration or voting. 



The law states that anyone who “pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting” risks penalties, including substantial fines or imprisonment.



While Musk&#8217;s campaign requires voters to sign a petition, Hasen questioned the underlying intent, noting that the stipulation that only registered voters in swing states can participate raises legal concerns. 



Participants must provide personal contact information, potentially enabling AmericaPAC to target them for future political outreach.



In Pennsylvania, participants receive $100 for signing the petition, plus an additional $100 for each person they refer who also signs. Voters in other battleground states are offered $47 per referral. 



This structure could exploit a loophole in US election law, as no one is being directly paid to vote, even though financial incentives are introduced into the electoral process.



Historical context reveals the sensitivity surrounding such tactics. In 2008, ice cream maker Ben &amp; Jerry’s faced scrutiny for initially planning to offer free ice cream only to those with “I voted” stickers, ultimately deciding to provide the treat to everyone.



When asked about Musk’s initiative during a campaign event, Trump stated he was unaware of the details but acknowledged his friendship with Musk, who has become a prominent supporter of the former president.



Musk, who recently launched AmericaPAC with the goal of bolstering Trump&#8217;s campaign, has already donated $75 million to the group, which aims to influence voter sentiment on issues like border security, public safety, and free speech. 



He has expressed a desire to gather over a million signatures on the petition to send a strong message to elected officials regarding First and Second Amendment rights.



As the election approaches, the implications of Musk&#8217;s financial strategy and its impact on voter behavior remain to be seen, raising important questions about the intersection of wealth, influence, and electoral integrity in the United States.

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U.S Elections: Elon Musk To Give $1M to Swing State Voters

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AUTHOR: Perpetual Tweneboah Koduah

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