Elon Musk’s recent $1 million giveaway to voters who sign his political action committee (PAC) petition has sparked concerns among election experts. Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, and an ardent supporter of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, has pledged significant financial backing for Trump. His latest move—a daily $1 million giveaway until November 5—has drawn scrutiny from legal experts for potentially crossing election law boundaries. The offer, linked to voter registration and support for the U.S. Constitution, raises questions about the legality of incentivizing petition signatures tied to voting.

Musk has stated that the giveaway supports the First and Second Amendments, offering checks to participants. The initiative, starting in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, is part of Musk’s PAC’s efforts to rally support for Trump. This is not the first time Musk has used financial incentives to attract attention; previously, he offered $47 and later $100 to those referring others to sign the petition. While some see this as a promotional effort, election experts argue that conditioning cash prizes on voter registration skirts dangerously close to violating election laws.

Brendan Fischer, a campaign finance lawyer, and Rick Hasen, a UCLA law professor, have both expressed concerns. Fischer believes the legal line is being tested by requiring registration as a prerequisite for receiving money, which could violate election law. Hasen points out that the giveaway’s exclusivity to registered voters makes it illegal under laws that prohibit paying people to register or vote. Other experts, like Michael Kang from Northwestern University, emphasize the timing of the giveaway so close to Election Day as problematic.

Despite these concerns, Trump remains uninvolved, stating that he hasn’t followed the developments closely. He referred to Musk as a friend and praised him for his contributions to the country, distancing himself from the legal implications of the giveaway. 

The controversy surrounding Musk’s initiative highlights the fine line between political promotion and legality. Election experts and lawmakers will likely continue scrutinizing such tactics as Election Day approaches, raising further questions about the intersection of money and politics.