Shapiro Slams Musk’s $1M Voter Giveaway Plan

(Scypre.com) – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro voiced serious concerns on Sunday regarding Elon Musk’s latest initiative involving cash giveaways to registered voters in Pennsylvania, suggesting it may warrant law enforcement scrutiny. Musk, the tech billionaire, recently announced a plan to distribute $1 million each day until Election Day to a randomly selected registered voter who signs a petition from his super PAC, which advocates for free speech and the right to bear arms. Shapiro described this initiative as “deeply concerning” during an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”

Shapiro emphasized that his apprehension was not rooted in political disagreements. “Musk obviously has a right to express his views. He’s made it very clear that he supports Donald Trump. I don’t,” said Shapiro. “I don’t deny him that right, but when you start flowing this kind of money into politics, I think it raises serious questions.” Shapiro’s comments come as Musk has been vocal about his support for former President Donald Trump and pledged to spend millions to boost voter turnout in Pennsylvania for Trump via his super PAC.

Musk’s super PAC, which has made signing the petition a prerequisite for attending his rallies, gave away its first $1 million check on stage at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. The prospect of significant cash prizes has, however, sparked numerous legal questions and led some election law experts to weigh in on the potential legality of the effort.

Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an election law expert, called Musk’s plan “clearly illegal.” Hasen pointed to a federal law—52 U.S.C. 10307(c)—that prohibits offering or making payments in exchange for voter registration or voting. “Any individual who pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both,” the statute reads. Hasen explained that Musk’s scheme targets only registered voters, not the general public, which could make it illegal.

“Essentially what you’re doing is creating a lottery where the only people eligible to participate are registered voters, and that’s illegal,” Hasen stated. He emphasized that federal election laws are designed to prevent any form of vote-buying. “You don’t have to explicitly tell people to vote for a particular candidate to be in violation of the law. It can be used to either incentivize people to register or vote, or it can be to reward them.”

Shapiro underscored that these concerns are not about stifling Musk’s political preferences but rather about ensuring electoral integrity. “The question isn’t about whether Elon Musk can say what he thinks—he certainly can. The question is about whether these payments cross a line into illegal territory that could potentially influence the election unfairly,” he added.

As of now, neither Musk nor a representative from America PAC has responded to requests for comment regarding these allegations. It remains uncertain if federal authorities will take action against Musk’s campaign. Hasen noted that federal prosecutors could either pursue formal charges or issue a warning to deter Musk from continuing with his initiative.

“If this law is going to be enforced, it needs to be deterred,” Hasen said. The lack of a clear response from federal authorities leaves uncertainty about how they might handle Musk’s controversial voter incentive program.

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