Musk's Offer for Signatures Could Cost $47M

Petition beckoning supporters of free speech and bearing arms will gather names of potential voters
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 7, 2024 4:20 PM CDT
Musk's Offer for Signatures Could Cost $47M
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk attends a campaign event with Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Elon Musk has kicked off an effort to identify potential Donald Trump voters in swing states with an offer the billionaire advertises as "easy money." Musk's America PAC wants people in seven states to sign an online petition pledging their support for the Constitution's first two amendments, which the PAC says "guarantee freedom of speech and the right to bear arms." The site collects each signer's contact information. Then, "for every person you refer who is a swing state voter, you get $47!" the billionaire Trump supporter posted on X. The offer is good for two weeks, the Hill reports.

Once Musk has a list of those names, the voters—who would be considered energized by political professionals—could be subject to lobbying by the PAC to turn out for Trump on Nov. 5, per the New York Times. The goal is to collect 1 million names, the post said; a million referrals would mean Musk's tab would be $47 million. A campaign finance lawyer said the effort seems to be legal. "The fact that they are only paying the referrer rather than the signatory further insulates the PAC from any accusations that they are buying votes," Brendan Fischer said. "Ultimately, what America PAC is doing here is spending money for voter data, which PACs and campaigns do all the time."

Online signers are directed to a page listing voter registration information for the seven states, per CNBC. Before paying the $47, the super PAC promises it will verify all information. Other fine print: "Eligible people may only list one eligible person as their referrer," the offer says. Payment is limited to referrals for people living in these states—or commonwealth, if it prefers—with the potential to decide the presidential race: Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin. (Musk made his Trump rally debut on Saturday.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X