Elon Musk now offers $100 to mobilise swing state voters in support of Trump

With the US presidential election in its final stretch, billionaire Elon Musk is ramping up his support for Republican candidate Donald Trump’s campaign by offering $100 to people who refer registered voters in a crucial battleground state to sign his petition supporting free speech and the right to bear arms.

The petition, floated by Musk’s America PAC, aims to gather 1 million signatures from swing state voters in support of the First and Second Amendments of the US Constitution. The PAC was formed with backing from Musk and other tech entrepreneurs specifically to support Trump’s campaign.

Musk tweeted, “If you’re a registered Pennsylvania voter, you & whoever referred you will now get $100 for signing our petition in support of free speech & right to bear arms. Earn money for supporting something you already believe in! Offer valid until midnight on Monday.”

The offer marks a substantial increase from an earlier promise of $47 to voters who referred others to sign the petition. If recruiters manage to gather 1 million signatures from swing-state voters, the Tesla boss would face a $100 million payout.

To curb potential fraud, the Tesla and SpaceX boss said that cheques will only be mailed to addresses listed in state voter rolls.

The legality of pay-per-signature compensation varies by state, and while some states permit it, critics warn that it could lead to fraud. America PAC, based in Texas, operates in a state without specific regulations on this practice.

Pennsylvania is a key battleground in the election, with both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump focusing considerable resources on the state, according to an NBC News report. Recent data shows that one in four dollars spent on presidential campaign ads from September 1 to 20 was targeted at Pennsylvania.

In the Electoral College, Pennsylvania holds the most electoral votes among swing states, making it pivotal to both candidates’ paths to the White House. Recent opinion polls indicate the race in Pennsylvania is tight, with a Quinnipiac University survey showing Harris leading by 3 percentage points, and a Wall Street Journal survey showing Trump leading by 1 point.