The US government has issued a warning to Elon Musk’s campaign, America PAC, regarding his announcement to give $1 million (8.4 crore rupees) to voters who participate in early voting before the elections in America. According to CNN, the Justice Department has deemed this initiative illegal.
Early voting in the US begins a few days prior to the elections. Recently, Musk awarded a $1 million check to a man and a woman in Pennsylvania on Saturday and Sunday, and his team announced that a winner from North Carolina would be selected on Monday.
Musk’s campaign appears to benefit Donald Trump while posing a challenge to Kamala Harris. The Biden administration is unhappy with Musk’s initiative, as he supports former President Trump in the upcoming elections and has committed millions to Trump’s campaign. Musk’s announcement to give money to voters also aims to generate a favorable atmosphere for the Republican Party in key swing states.
Swing states are crucial areas where both parties compete vigorously, making every vote critical. Musk’s campaign could potentially attract voters away from Kamala, especially since the conditions for winning the $1 million resemble Trump’s election promises.
Musk insists that his scheme is not targeted at any specific party, but Democratic leaders have labeled it a violation of election laws. Pennsylvania’s Democratic Governor, Josh Shapiro, expressed concern over Musk’s announcement. In defense, Musk argued on social media that the winner is chosen by lottery and that he has no knowledge of their political affiliations.
Early voting plays a significant role in American elections. Although Democrats historically dominated pre-election voting, Republicans have started to gain traction in several key states this year.
Before 1988, only six states allowed early voting, but the practice has expanded since 1992. In the 1992 elections, just 7% of voters utilized early voting. According to NBC, this year, approximately 14.5 million people are expected to vote before the elections, accounting for around 70% of the total.
The MIT Election Data and Science Lab reports that in 2020, about 60% of Democratic voters and 32% of Republican voters cast their ballots by mail. This trend benefited Biden in the last election, which explains why former President Trump has repeatedly criticized mail-in voting, claiming it leads to fraud.
Despite these challenges, the Republican Party is actively promoting awareness of early voting ahead of this election.