• xmunk@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months 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.

  • whotookkarl@lemmy.world
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    2 months 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

    • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      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?

      • stonerboner@lemmynsfw.com
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        2 months 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.

        • rickdg@lemmy.world
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          2 months 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@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      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

      • RubberDuck@lemmy.world
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        2 months 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.

  • cosmicrookie@lemmy.world
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    2 months 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

  • kaitco@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

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

  • venusaur@lemmy.world
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    2 months 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.

  • TachyonTele@lemm.ee
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    2 months 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.

  • MehBlah@lemmy.world
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    2 months 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.

  • njm1314@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

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

  • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    There are lots of cafes that give free coffee to people wearing “I voted” stickers on Election Day. Is that illegal? Because it’s basically the same thing.

      • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Musk isn’t giving everyone a million dollars. He’s giving people lottery tickets, and they might be worth a million dollars but are far more likely to be worthless.

        You can buy such lottery tickets yourself, and they cost about the same as a cup of coffee.

        • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          Ohh, so any registered voter, that supports any candidate and policies can get this lotto ticket, exactly like your hypothetical coffee shop that just looks for “I voted” stickers?

          Youre saying this lottery is fully non partisan and is open to all voters equally?

    • dogslayeggs@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      One is giving you a gift worth less than $5 for taking part in society, the other is paying you $1M for saying you will vote a specific way. And before you say a gift is a gift, the government has a definition of a gift when it comes to fraud, waste, and abuse. Heck, if we go by your insane equivocation of the two things, those “I voted” stickers are the same as getting free coffee.