A billionaire's ambitious voter registration initiative takes an unexpected turn in battleground states, revealing surprising patterns among its first winners.
According to The Independent, Elon Musk's $1 million prize giveaways to three already-voted Pennsylvania Republicans may violate federal laws against vote-buying, raising concerns about the integrity of electoral processes.
The initiative, designed to support First and Second Amendment rights through a petition drive, specifically targets seven swing states: Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.
John Dreher, a 27-year-old Cumberland County resident, became the first recipient of the million-dollar prize on Saturday. Records from the secretary of state's office indicate he had submitted his ballot on October 4, well before receiving the award.
The second winner, Kristine Fishell from Allegheny County, received her oversized check during a Pittsburgh event with Musk. Her mail-in ballot was processed on October 16, five days before her win. Federal campaign finance records show Fishell previously contributed over $500 to Republican campaigns in 2020.
Shannon Tomei of Allegheny County became the third winner on Monday night, though she had already voted on October 7.
The voter registration drive faces scrutiny from election law experts who suggest the initiative may violate federal laws prohibiting payment for voter registration or voting activities. The contest's restriction to registered voters in specific battleground states has raised particular concerns.
Campaign Legal Center's executive director, Adav Noti, stated:
It is extremely problematic that the world's richest man can throw his money around in an attempt to directly influence the outcome of this election. This is not how our democracy should work.
The timing of the campaign presents additional complications, as voter registration deadlines have already passed in several targeted states, including Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
The recipients have shared their excitement about the unexpected windfall. First winner, John Dreher, described his reaction in an America PAC video, expressing more enthusiasm about meeting Musk than the monetary prize.
The PAC's stated goal involves gathering one million signatures from swing state voters in support of constitutional rights, particularly focusing on freedom of speech and the right to bear arms.
Federal election laws explicitly prohibit financial incentives for voter registration or voting, though the application of these laws to Musk's campaign remains unclear, particularly given that winners had already voted.
Elon Musk's million-dollar voter initiative has awarded three checks to Pennsylvania Republicans who were already registered voters. The campaign specifically targets seven swing states through America PAC. Legal experts have raised concerns about potential violations of federal election laws. The initiative requires participants to sign a petition supporting First and Second Amendment rights. The timing of the campaign has proven problematic, with several state registration deadlines already past before the program's launch.
