As the election draws closer and the tension rises between both candidates, recently there have been many acts that A list celebrities and entrepreneurs are pulling to get their fans on the side they think people should vote for. Although this might be unethical, as of Oct. 21, 2024, it has been confirmed that a certain billionaire is pulling the same scheme.
Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla, has recently announced that he will be offering almost $1,000,000 to anyone who signs his PAC petition, or Political Action Committee, which will fund Donald J. Trump’s Campaign. It is not typical for celebrities to be endorsing candidates for elections, however, during this one many well standing individuals of media and pop culture have chosen to do so. For example, Taylor Swift has endorsed Kamala Harris through an Instagram post, and Bryce Hall has endorsed Donald Trump through his Tik Tok and a campaign rally. Although they are both using bias to endorse the candidate they are voting for, none of them has resorted to financial incentive.
According to CBS News, critics are positive that this form of campaigning should be strictly forbidden, and it is also illegal to be doing such things during a campaign.In reality, he is actually using a loop hole. In order for it to be considered illegal, it has to go through multiple courts and discussions to prove anything, and by that time it will be too late as the election is being held incredibly soon.
“When I first saw the petition, I was sure that it was illegal. Not only did I look down upon Elon Musk, but it really makes me think how legit the election really is with all these external pressures on the voters,” said Roshni Rao, a junior interested in politics, from Briar Woods High School.
Although the petition seems like a very simple form, it is actually more complex than it appears. According to BBC News, there are certain requirements that must be met in order to even sign the petition. The voter must be a legal registered voter and they must be from one of the six swing states. These states include Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.
From the money standpoint, not everyone is actually getting $1,000,000. He is only giving this amount of money to random signers. Sums of $100 can be gained from Pennsylvania, as it is the battleground state for this election. Also, those who refer another voter who signs up are promised $47.
Overall, this election has proven that people need to be careful when choosing who to vote for. Voting is a right in the United States, however, in many other countries it is considered a privilege. Voters should use this example to learn that they should vote for whos policies they resonate with the most, rather than being lured in by a celebrity or businessman who has money and fame backing them up.
