Billionaire Elon Musk has offered a 'lottery' of one million dollars to those who sign a statement in favor of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the 'swing states' of the United States. This controversial initiative has raised questions about its legality, according to U.S. media reports.
Musk pledged to deliver up to one million dollars daily, randomly, to registered voters in key states who sign a petition from 'America PAC', the political action committee he is investing in to support Trump. The goal is to back the Constitution of the United States, especially the right to freedom of expression and the right to bear arms.
Although Musk claims he has already made two payments and will continue to do so daily until the elections, several experts have questioned this action. Derek Muller from the University of Notre Dame warned that linking rewards only to registered voters fuels suspicions of bribery. Rick Hasen from UCLA School of Law stated that this initiative is clearly illegal, especially for limiting rewards to registered voters, which constitutes an illegal purchase of votes.
Federal laws in the United States prohibit paying for votes or for registration; they only allow for the transportation of individuals to vote. Musk's promise has generated divided opinions among experts, with some considering it borders on illegality by conditioning the payment on a signature, while others clarify that they are not being paid to register, but only to sign a petition.
Democratic politicians have also denounced Musk's promise, warning about the flow of money in politics and raising questions about its legality and morality in the electoral process. Legal experts point out that Musk's offer could face legal consequences, as providing benefits in exchange for votes or voter registrations is prohibited by federal law.
