this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2024
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[–] [email protected] 89 points 1 month ago

It ain't effectively illegal if no one is enforcing the laws... but it's scummy as fuck and most people think it should be banned.

[–] FlyingSquid 67 points 1 month ago (1 children)

No.

But he'll get away with it anyway.

[–] spankmonkey 20 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You can tell because he can afford enough lawyers to not be punished.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Honestly, we are maybe 5 years from the rich hunting is for sport because they can afford the legal team to defend it

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Someday we'll find out it's been happening for years but the government doesn't care enough to prosecute it.

I'm only half kidding. I mean, when was the last time a seriously rich person was convicted for murder?

[–] Badeendje 3 points 1 month ago

And with the sexual abuse schandaal that where apparently open secrets in certain circles..

[–] phoneymouse 43 points 1 month ago

What’s anyone gonna do about it? You can’t even prosecute a former president who attempted a coup.

[–] rickdg 38 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Sign that paper, maybe get the money, still vote for Harris 👍

[–] themeatbridge 25 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

I was going to do that, but I don't want my phone number and email on a Musk list. Like, what is he going to do with it? Am I going to get a visit at my house? Are they going to check if I have Harris signs up and then try to sue me for breach of contract? Will the Jan 6th militia get my phone number to try to recruit me for the next terror attack? If I win the $1 million, are they going to expect political donations?

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I think the reality is that you just wouldn't get paid even if you were "selected"

But also? This is an incredibly litigious man who sues anyone and anything. I am not picking that fight.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

If you are sued you just say you felt you had to post that because the fediverse is such a liberal haven, but really you voted for Trump - since it is a secret ballot the court will never be able to know if you are telling the truth or not. So long as one person in your jurisdiction voted Trump. The judge should not allow any question of who your voted for to be asked while you are under oath as that violates the secret ballot laws - though I'm not sure if they will.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Let’s be honest- Elon already has your personal data. Cambridge Analytica really spelled out that any anonymity we may think we have is long gone.

No, they can’t sue you for voting for anyone you want. A), they have zero rights as a third party to confirm who you voted for. In fact, the HAVA (Help Americans Vote Act) not only protects you from this, but has actionable penalties should anyone access your voting record outside of state/federal business.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Burner email and phone number

[–] rickdg 2 points 1 month ago

Yeah, create an alternative identity where you’re just a crazy prepper living in the woods. Gimme my money Elmo, dems the rulz! shotgun pump

[–] makeshiftreaper 10 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I have seen a few legal theorists saying there's a possibility that's illegal too. And if I had to gamble on who's more likely to get fucked over between Elon and a regular person? I'd probably be willing to bet all of Elon's money on the regular person getting shafted

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There’s no way they can see your vote. Doesn’t matter anyways.

A country ain’t a democracy if your vote is public. See singapore as an example. The government gives all sorts of benefits and gifts to voters who vote for them.

[–] makeshiftreaper 3 points 1 month ago

I meant taking his money to vote. Yes your vote is private but that you voted is not. So if you sign his form, collect his money, and then go vote, I have heard it is possibly illegal. Which is why I'd suggest most people just stay away from this rather than try to game his system

[–] Badeendje 3 points 1 month ago

If you look at the law linked in the other post.. who makes an offer to.. and who accepts an offer to. So both parties would be breaking the law. And I'll bet Elon will have more ability to avoid consequences than normal people would.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

There's absolutely nothing wrong with doing that and Elon himself said it was fine.

"You can be from any or no political party and you don’t even have to vote in order to sign the petition."

[–] samus12345 37 points 1 month ago

Not the right question. The question is whether he will see any consequences for it.

[–] whotookkarl 34 points 1 month ago

No,

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/597

""" Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate; and

Whoever solicits, accepts, or receives any such expenditure in consideration of his vote or the withholding of his vote—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 721; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(a)(12), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3498.) """

2 years in jail per incident sounds fair

[–] v1605 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What are the odds he even pays out?

[–] thesohoriots 5 points 1 month ago

You get paid in a lithium battery fire that just keeps on giving

[–] cosmicrookie 9 points 1 month ago

If there is one person who has proven that legal og illegal is just a question of how much it costs to be illegal, then its Elon

[–] xc2215x 8 points 1 month ago

No. It is not.

[–] kaitco 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What’s that idea where if the title to a news article is a question, the answer to the question is always “No.”? 🤔

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

Betteridge's law of headlines

[–] njm1314 3 points 1 month ago

Probably not but Merrick Garland ain't going to do anything about it so what does it matter?

[–] venusaur 3 points 1 month ago

It’ll be interesting to see the behavioral science effect of this even if it’s not requiring the signee to take a specific action. They could start putting out data, albeit inaccurate, that people are leaning right and that might cause uneducated voters to make similar decisions.

[–] MehBlah 2 points 1 month ago

I'm thinking about signing up for it. Its not like I have to keep my word. He will have no way of knowing how I really vote.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

For those that only want to comment on the headline:

The article basically comes down to because the money is only for people that are already registered to vote, it's illegal.
And because the money is only for people that are already registered to vote, it's legal.