Here’s what election law experts say.
For the second time in a year, Elon Musk appears to be trying to bribe voters — and election law experts say it’s probably illegal.
Musk offered Thursday to “personally hand over” a total of $2 million to two individuals who have already voted in the closely watched Wisconsin Supreme Court race. (It’s unclear whether the payment is conditional on voting for Musk’s preferred candidate.)
Following threats of potential legal blowback, however, he said that the recipients of the $1 million reward would instead be chosen on the basis of their ability to be effective spokespeople for a petition against “activist judges.” His PAC has also offered $100 to anyone who signs the petition.
Musk’s spending has already made the Supreme Court race the most expensive in Wisconsin history.
The stakes are high: The election will determine the court’s ideological balance — and potentially the future of abortion rights, electoral maps, and unions in the critical battleground state.
