Elon Musk makes $100 offer to Pennsylvania voters; what you need to know
Posted on 10/20/2024
(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported why card game company, Cards against Humanity is offering to pay voters. The card game made an offer to people who did not vote in 2020 but are prepared to vote this year.
Elon Musk, who’s been stumping for former President Donald Trump, is paying people to build support for a petition that pledges support for the First and Second amendments.
Last week, the Tesla CEO offered $47 to people to refer registered voters in swing states to sign a petition supporting free speech and gun rights. This week, he upped the offer to $100.
While most states consistently vote red or blue, such as the 38 states that voted for the same party over and over between 2000 and 2016, there are those that could go either way in a given election. These are called swing states or the battleground states.
Pennsylvania, is becoming the key battleground state, with a bounty of 19 Electoral College votes up for grabs, and could determine whether Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris take the White House.
Musk pinned a post on his X platform "If you’re a registered Pennsylvania voter, you & whoever referred you will now get $100 for signing our petition in support of free speech & right to bear arms. Earn money for supporting something you already believe in!"
The petition reiterates the pledged support for the First and Second amendments and claims their "goal is to get 1 million registered voters in swing states to sign in support of the Constitution, especially freedom of speech and the right to bear arms."
The offer states that it is valid until midnight on Monday, Oct. 21 and is exclusively open to registered voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.
Other fine print to note, "Each person may only sign this petition once. Eligible people may only list one eligible person as their referrer. Signing the petition on behalf of another person is not permitted. Before payment is made, America PAC will verify the accuracy of all information of the referrer and referee. Payments of $600 or more will require the referrer to provide a signed IRS W-9 so an IRS 1099 can be issued. To be eligible, both the referrer and the petition signer must be registered voters of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin."
Musk is linked to America PAC, a political organization founded to support Trump's presidential campaign.
In contrast, the card game Cards Against Humanity, made an offer to left-leaning voters who skipped the 2020 election and promise to vote this year.
Is this legal?
Federal law prohibits paying individuals to vote or accepting payment for voter registration or voting. The offense carries a fine and possible jail time.
Paying individuals for signing petitions or convincing others to sign the petitions is not against the law.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported why card game company, Cards against Humanity is offering to pay voters. The card game made an offer to people who did not vote in 2020 but are prepared to vote this year.
Elon Musk, who’s been stumping for former President Donald Trump, is paying people to build support for a petition that pledges support for the First and Second amendments.
Last week, the Tesla CEO offered $47 to people to refer registered voters in swing states to sign a petition supporting free speech and gun rights. This week, he upped the offer to $100.
While most states consistently vote red or blue, such as the 38 states that voted for the same party over and over between 2000 and 2016, there are those that could go either way in a given election. These are called swing states or the battleground states.
Pennsylvania, is becoming the key battleground state, with a bounty of 19 Electoral College votes up for grabs, and could determine whether Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris take the White House.
Musk pinned a post on his X platform "If you’re a registered Pennsylvania voter, you & whoever referred you will now get $100 for signing our petition in support of free speech & right to bear arms. Earn money for supporting something you already believe in!"
The petition reiterates the pledged support for the First and Second amendments and claims their "goal is to get 1 million registered voters in swing states to sign in support of the Constitution, especially freedom of speech and the right to bear arms."
The offer states that it is valid until midnight on Monday, Oct. 21 and is exclusively open to registered voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.
Other fine print to note, "Each person may only sign this petition once. Eligible people may only list one eligible person as their referrer. Signing the petition on behalf of another person is not permitted. Before payment is made, America PAC will verify the accuracy of all information of the referrer and referee. Payments of $600 or more will require the referrer to provide a signed IRS W-9 so an IRS 1099 can be issued. To be eligible, both the referrer and the petition signer must be registered voters of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin."
Musk is linked to America PAC, a political organization founded to support Trump's presidential campaign.
In contrast, the card game Cards Against Humanity, made an offer to left-leaning voters who skipped the 2020 election and promise to vote this year.
Is this legal?
Federal law prohibits paying individuals to vote or accepting payment for voter registration or voting. The offense carries a fine and possible jail time.
Paying individuals for signing petitions or convincing others to sign the petitions is not against the law.
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