Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and prominent supporter of Donald Trump, has stirred significant legal and ethical debate with his recent offer of a million dollars to one registered voter in a swing state every day until Election Day on November 5. Announced in Pennsylvania, one of the critical swing states, Musk’s lottery-like contest is aimed at boosting voter turnout, particularly among those in states that are expected to decide the 2024 US presidential election. While Musk portrays the initiative as a simple “get out and vote” effort, critics and legal experts are raising concerns about whether such an offer complies with US election law.

The lottery requires entrants to sign a petition “to support free speech & the right to bear arms,” and participants must be registered voters in one of the seven swing states. These states, which include Pennsylvania, are crucial battlegrounds that will likely determine whether Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Kamala Harris will win the presidency.

Musk’s announcement, made via X, the social media platform he owns (formerly known as Twitter), has brought to light potential legal complications regarding the lottery’s mechanics. The key issue is whether it is lawful to offer financial incentives to voters based on their registration status.

Danielle Lang, a professor at Georgetown Law School specializing in election law, stated that the contest could fall afoul of federal laws. “It is illegal to give out money on the condition that recipients register as voters,” Lang told AFP. She pointed out that since the contest is........

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