Maye Musk, the mother of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has sparked significant controversy following a social media post in which she appeared to encourage voter fraud ahead of the upcoming U.S. elections. The post, shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), suggested that Americans use fake names to vote multiple times, a statement that quickly went viral and drew widespread criticism.
The Democrats have given us another option. You don’t have to register to vote. On Election Day, have 10 fake names, go to 10 polling booths and vote 10 times. That’s 100 votes, and it’s not illegal. Maybe we should work the system too. https://t.co/GZ5DlaoFPs
— Maye Musk (@mayemusk) October 5, 2024
The Controversial Post
On October 5, 2024, Maye Musk posted on X: “The Democrats have given us another option. You don’t have to register to vote. On Election Day, have 10 fake names, go to 10 polling booths, and vote 10 times. That’s 100 votes, and it’s not illegal. Maybe we should work the system too.” This post was intended to criticize perceived voting practices but was immediately flagged by X’s community notes, which clarified that such actions are indeed illegal.
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| Elon Musk's mother, Maye, appears to encourage voter fraud in X post |
Public Reaction
Actually, this comes from Gavin Newsom. What you are saying is that he should be jailed for his new law that prevents ID when voting, so illegal immigrants can vote many times. I guess you don’t understand sarcasm. https://t.co/mw7dnyB7GX
— Maye Musk (@mayemusk) October 6, 2024
Legal Implications
Election experts have weighed in on the legality of Maye Musk’s statements. Nate Persily, a Stanford Law School election expert, noted that if individuals were to act on her advice, they would likely violate election laws. Title 52 of the U.S. Code prohibits using false information to register to vote, with potential penalties including fines up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to five years.
Following the backlash, there were calls for federal authorities, including the FBI and the Department of Justice, to investigate the post. Some users tagged these agencies in their responses, urging them to take action against Maye Musk for promoting illegal activities.
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Retraction and Apology
In response to the overwhelming criticism, Maye Musk retracted her statement and issued an apology. She clarified that her post was meant to be a satirical comment on the voting system and not a serious suggestion. Despite the retraction, the incident has raised concerns about the influence of public figures on social media and the potential consequences of their statements.
In Butler, Pennsylvania, we just heard that the Republicans will make sure no illegals vote. Ignore my previous post. https://t.co/syxMCHPeKN
— Maye Musk (@mayemusk) October 5, 2024
The controversy surrounding Maye Musk’s post serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that come with a large social media following. While the intention behind the post may have been to criticize perceived flaws in the voting system, the suggestion of illegal activities has serious implications. As the U.S. elections approach, it is crucial for public figures to promote lawful and ethical behavior in the democratic process.
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Source: Time of India, NDTV, Economic Times