Elon Musk, the tech mogul, is making an appeal to voters in key battleground states, offering a unique proposition to spread awareness about a specific petition. He announced on X, “For every person you refer who is a swing state voter, you get $47! Easy money,” as part of his campaign to support the First and Second Amendments.
The petition, backed by America PAC, states, “The First and Second Amendments guarantee freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. By signing below, I am pledging my support for the First and Second Amendments,” and mentions an enticing offer available for a limited period of two weeks.
Supporters who convince registered voters to sign the petition are rewarded, as the form specifies, “In appreciation for your support, you will receive $47 for each registered voter you refer that signs this petition.”
The initiative aims to mobilize one million voters from swing states to endorse the Constitution’s provisions on free speech and gun rights, targeting only residents from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. The campaign’s rules state that each participant can sign the petition just once and can only credit one individual as their referrer.
America PAC has committed to diligently verifying the details of both the referrer and referee before issuing payments, as highlighted on their page.
The strategy has faced criticism and accusations of being a vote-buying scheme on various social platforms. However, offering financial incentives for petition referrals is not against federal election laws, unlike voter registration incentives, which are illegal.
Forbes clarified, “Yes. It is legal to compensate signature gatherers, or circulators, who collect petition signatures, though the exact laws vary by state.” It noted the legality of compensating individuals for gathering signatures, with some exceptions in states like Arizona, Florida, and Utah. America PAC operates out of Texas, where no specific laws against pay-per-signature compensation exist.
Musk, whose net worth Forbes estimates at $263.3 billion, has publicly supported former President Donald Trump. At a rally in Butler, PA, he emphasized the importance of free speech for democracy, stating, “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy. And if people don’t know what’s going on, if they don’t know the truth, how can you make an informed vote?” He further reinforced the significance of the First and Second Amendments in preserving democratic principles.
