Elon Musk can continue to give away cash to registered voters – for now as a Pennsylvania state judge mulls the case. The Donald Trump supporter has, through his political group America PAC, been offering cash prizes to registered voters in swing states who sign a petition – something US officials suggest may break electoral law. Musk denies this.
Judge Allows Musk’s Election Cash
Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner sued Musk this week over the $1m (£770,000) giveaways and said Musk “must be stopped, immediately, before the upcoming presidential election”. At a hearing on Thursday, Judge Angelo Foglietta said the lawsuit will be put on hold while a federal court decides whether to take up the case.
If the federal court chooses not to rule on the matter, the case will go back to the state court.
In a post on X, the platform Musk owns, he said the ruling was “American Justice FTW (for the win)”.
It is unlikely the case will be resolved before Tuesday’s election.
“We will proceed to federal court and we will address the issues there and seek to have the matter remanded back to the state court,” John Summers, a lawyer working with Mr Krasner, told reporters after the hearing.
The billionaire announced earlier this month that he would randomly award a $1m prize to people in battleground states – Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina – every day until 5 November.
These swing states suggest a particularly close contest between Trump and his Democratic rival for president, Kamala Harris. Yet another winner was announced on Thursday. Musk’s America PAC said Dacey from Fremont, North Carolina had won a $1m check.
To be eligible to win, the giveaway requires registered voters to release personal identifying information, like addresses and phone numbers. They are also required to sign a pledge that says they support the US Constitution.
Musk’s legal team maintains that the cash giveaways are a non-partisan effort to boost voter interest and participation. “These giveaways aren’t about telling people who to vote for; they’re about making sure people know their vote matters,” a representative for Musk’s team said in a statement.
Supporters of the giveaways argue that Musk is bringing fresh energy to the election season, especially among younger and first-time voters who may be more drawn to social media content than traditional outreach methods. “It’s innovative, and it’s exciting,” said Jacob Haney, a 22-year-old student who received $500 from one of Musk’s giveaways. “I felt encouraged to read up on the issues and engage more.”
However, opponents see it differently, expressing concern over the precedent that Musk’s cash incentives could set. “This is a form of monetary influence, whether he admits it or not,” said Sheila Moran from Democracy Watch, one of the groups involved in the lawsuit. “We can’t have elections where billionaires are dangling cash to sway participation or outcomes. It opens the door to further blurring of lines between civic engagement and personal agenda.”
As the legal debate unfolds, the court is evaluating whether Musk’s giveaways violate federal election laws designed to prevent financial influence on voters. The judge overseeing the case has stated that while Musk can continue the giveaways in the meantime, any future decision may come with stricter guidelines.
For now, Musk’s initiative continues, with thousands of followers participating each day. Many winners share their reactions on social media, posting about their newfound election enthusiasm. Musk himself has remained active on the platform, urging followers to “be informed” and “get involved” while offering occasional hints of more giveaways to come.
With Election Day approaching, legal experts predict that the case could be expedited, as it has implications for how elections might be influenced in the age of social media. As debates continue in court, the nation watches to see whether Musk’s cash giveaways will be upheld as a groundbreaking method of civic engagement – or ruled as a step too far in election influence.
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