Does Musk’s Sweepstakes Help Donald Trump? UCLA Political Science Professor Rick Hasen Criticisms of the Campaign Ground Game
Either would take a while to complete. Musk would like to think that Trump will win and the legal questions will no longer be relevant. Even if the former president doesn’t win, Musk has already had a track record of violating regulation in the US. But conversely, it’s an open question how much Musk’s sweepstakes will help Trump — and whether it can make up for rumored weaknesses in the candidate’s traditional campaign ground game.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said on Meet the Press this morning that the offer is “deeply concerning.” The ploy is something that law enforcement can take a look at, but he stopped short of calling it illegal.
It’s against federal law to impel anyone to vote or get registered to vote and Musk’s $1 million prizes are “clearly illegal,” writes UCLA political science professor Rick Hasen in his Election Law Blog. Anyone who tries to pay or accepts payment for registration or voting can see $10,000 in fines or five years in prison according to 52 USC 10307 (c). Bonuses for signers and for getting others to join the pledge are questionable aspects of the pledge.
Only those who have signed the petition will be eligible to take the offer. Only registered voters are allowed to sign the petition. According to its terms, Musk will give $1 million to someone in Pittsburgh today, but will later expand to anyone living in swing states like Georgia, Nevada, or Arizona.
“If you look at the conditions, you have to be a registered voter,” Hasen said. The lottery is only open for people who register to vote. So it’s either an incentive for someone to vote or it’s a reward. And either way, it violates federal law.”
UCLA election law professor Richard Hasen said there’s nothing criminal about the act of collecting signatures. But a closer look points to red flags.
The sweepstakes is raising concerns among election law experts and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who formerly served as the state’s attorney general. Vice President Harris has a campaign surrogate for him, according to a report.