Elon Musk Can Continue Giving $1M to Voters, Judge Rules

Elon Musk’s political organization, America PAC, has been granted permission to continue its $1 million daily giveaways to voters in key swing states, following a ruling by a Pennsylvania judge. The initiative, set to end on Election Day, has been under scrutiny and faced legal challenges accusing it of constituting an “illegal lottery.”

Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner filed a lawsuit in an attempt to halt the campaign, arguing that the financial incentives violated election laws, which prohibit offering money to influence voter registration. Despite this, Judge Angelo Foglietta ruled in favor of Musk’s group on Monday, though he did not immediately provide an explanation for his decision.

During the court hearing, Chris Gober, the attorney representing Musk, clarified that the recipients of the $1 million prizes were not chosen randomly, as many had believed. “The $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance,” Gober stated, revealing that America PAC had already selected who would receive the final awards. The last beneficiary, according to Gober, will be a voter from Michigan.

On Monday, the group announced that Joshua from Arizona was the day’s recipient, continuing their daily awards. The campaign, which Musk promoted on X (formerly Twitter), claims that individuals are selected to serve as spokespersons for America PAC and sign a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments.

The campaign drew immediate attention and controversy. When Musk introduced the concept, he had described it as a “random drawing” for registered voters signing the petition, leading many to believe it was a lottery-style giveaway. Critics, including the U.S. Justice Department, raised concerns that it may breach laws designed to prevent financial incentives from influencing voter behavior.

Musk, who has been a vocal supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has been campaigning actively in critical swing states. America PAC has been particularly active in Pennsylvania, where polling data shows a tight race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.