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Here’s how Elon Musk’s  million-a-day giveaway to battleground voters works
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Here’s how Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day giveaway to battleground voters works

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is making waves in Pennsylvania’s campaign in support of former President Donald Trump’s re-election, including by doling out $1 million a day to swing-state voters who support his political action committee’s petition in support of sign the Constitution.

“Every day from now through November 5, @America PAC will give away $1 million to someone in swing states who sign our petition in support of free speech and the right to bear arms! We want to make sure everyone swing states are hearing about this and I suspect this will make them do so,” Musk, the richest person in the US, wrote on X early Sunday morning.

The night before, Musk donated $1 million to a Pennsylvania man named John Dreher at an event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

“All we’re asking for the million dollars is that you be a spokesperson for the petition, and that’s basically it,” Musk said at the meeting, while Dreher explained he had “no idea” he had been selected.

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Elon Musk on the podium with the American flag behind him

SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk speaks at a town hall with Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick at the Roxain Theater on October 20, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)

Fox News looked into the legalities surrounding the initiative and found it to be a legal gray area that appears to be open to interpretation, and also found similar Democratic initiatives in the Keystone State and nationally.

Under federal law, it is a crime to pay someone to register to vote. However, Musk’s giveaway doesn’t entice voters to register, but instead signs a petition.

Musk’s rules surrounding the $1 million award include voters signing his PAC’s petition, which supports the First and Second Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The initiative outlines that it only applies to registered voters in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin and North Carolina, implying that unregistered voters are not eligible for the program.

“The First and Second Amendments guarantee freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. By signing below, I express my support for the First and Second Amendments,” the petition reads.

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America PAC’s website notes that a petition signer in the Pittsburgh area will be awarded the amount by October 20, and that another Pennsylvania signer in general will be awarded the amount by October 21.

“October 22 – November 5: Each day, one petition signer from PA, GA, NV, AZ, MI, WI or NC will earn $1,000,000,” the website continues, detailing which states are considered battleground states.

The petition does not require a resident to register to vote to sign the petition, but only asks users to answer whether they are registered voters.

The Washington Post detailed earlier this month in a piece, titled “Massive influx of shadowy get-out-the-vote spending flooding swing states,” that a Philadelphia nonprofit sent more than 100,000 comic books to voters under 32. the area to increase voter turnout in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. The outlet explained that the nonprofit has also “tried to undermine voting” this cycle with $1,000 Target gift cards, $2,000 rent checks and $10,000 grants to community groups.

A youth-focused nonprofit, The Civic Center, is running a similar effort for high school students: $150 gift cards for students who help their schools prepare for high school voter registration week.

close-up shot of Elon Musk wearing MAGA hat

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk listens as former Republican presidential candidate President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The $1 million-a-day giveaway amid a tense and highly anticipated election has drawn some criticism and legal concerns from Democrats, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who previously served as the state’s attorney general.

“I think there are real questions about how he’s spending money in this race, how the dark money is flowing not only into Pennsylvania, but apparently now into the pockets of Pennsylvanians. That’s very concerning,” Shapiro said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

He continued: “Look, Musk clearly has the right to be able to express his opinion, and he has made it very, very clear that he supports Donald Trump, and we have a disagreement. I am not denying him that right. But when you start pouring this kind of money into politics, I think it raises serious questions that people might want to look at.”

“Do you think it might not be legal, yes or no?” asked host Kristen Welker.

Shapiro responded, “I think this is something the police can look into.”

Musk brushed aside concerns about X: “Worried he would say something like that.”

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Earlier this month, Musk’s PAC announced that individuals seeking to increase voter registration and turnout would be offered a starting wage of $30 per hour — well above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour — with the PAC also offering battleground voters $47 for every registered voter they choose. see to sign the PAC’s petition. In Pennsylvania, Musk’s PAC is offering residents $100 to sign the petition and $100 for each referral.

Elon Musk's arm raised his microphone during the meeting

Elon Musk speaks as part of a campaign town hall in support of Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, in Folsom, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, October 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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The PAC, which bills itself as promoting “free speech, free markets, and a merit-based society,” was officially formed earlier this summer. Federal Election Commission Documents from late last month show that the America PAC has already invested at least $2.4 million in more than a dozen key congressional races. Musk said in July that he planned to donate about $45 million a month to the super PAC.

Musk officially endorsed Trump over the summer, when the 45th president survived the first assassination attempt on his life this election cycle, and has since joined the campaign trail, particularly in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania to rally support and encourage people to vote .

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He has made the First Amendment and the Second Amendment, cutting red tape and ending over-regulation of businesses hallmarks of his campaign speeches. Trump has since praised Musk for his support, saying the tech billionaire behind SpaceX and

Elon Musk jumps on stage at Trump rally

Elon Musk jumps on stage as Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, speaks during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show on Saturday, October 5, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Musk’s campaign tour has apparently worried Democrats amid Trump’s attempts to claim the Keystone State.

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Pennsylvania is seen as the state likely to determine the final outcome of the election, with both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris repeatedly zigzagging across the state to drum up support among city dwellers, suburbanites and farmers. Democratic Senator John Fetterman warned party members not to discount Musk’s influence on Pennsylvania voters.

Musk hugs Trump

Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, hugs Elon Musk, right, during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

“Not even just that he has endorsed (Trump), but the fact that he is now becoming an active participant and showing up and doing rallies and things like that,” Fetterman told the New York Post this month.

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“I mean, (Musk) is incredibly successful, and I think some people would see him as a Tony Stark,” Fetterman said. “Democrats, you know, make light of it a little bit, or they make fun of him jumping up and down and things like that. And I would just say that they do that at their own peril.”