'Fuel to that fire': Experts doubt legality of Elon Musk's PAC paying for referring registered voters in Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Less than one month out from Election Day, Elon Musk is offering people money if they recruit registered voters in key swing states to sign an online petition.

But it's raising serious questions about the legality of the effort in Wisconsin, and whether it constitutes bribery.

The petition asks people to support the 1^st and 2^nd Amendments, neither of which are on a ballot this November.

Then, the petition says, you'll get "$47 for each registered voter you refer that signs this petition."

Experts worry it may violate Wisconsin's election bribery law, but with the clock ticking, it may not matter.

In Elon Musk's words, it's "easy money." The online petition is run by Musk's America PAC, gathering support for the 1^st and 2^nd Amendments.

Claire Woodall, the former election chief for the City of Milwaukee, and current senior advisor for Issue One, told us, "I just don't think, on the surface, that it's likely legal and going to hold up in Wisconsin."

Wisconsin state statute on election bribery prohibits someone from -among other things- paying a person to go to the polls or to vote.

Woodall said, "When you look at the statute, it's very clear: you can't pay someone on the basis of them voting or encouraging them to vote."

Musk's program is only available to registered voters in seven key swing states, including Wisconsin. The states are where presidential polls are tightest.

Woodall said, "So in order to really sign the petition and receive payment, they are making voter registration requirement of that payment."

After completing the short form, a thank you message appears, along with links to each state's voter registration page.

Musk recently endorsed former president Donald Trump.

He appeared with Trump at a rally over the weekend, specifically citing the two amendments in the petition. Musk said, "There's one request. It's very important: register to vote."

Musk's motivations are unclear; Wisconsin's voter rolls are already easily available for a price.

The amendments -the 2^nd especially- would presumably attract conservative voters, who could then refer other conservatives to register to vote.

It's also unclear how Musk's PAC would pay out the $47 per referral. And legal challenges are unlikely to be resolved before election day.

Woodall said, "It just seems like a very messy addition to an already chaotic landscape where you don't really know what's legal, what's not, who to trust, and I think it's just adding fuel to that fire."

While support of the 2^nd Amendment is typically a conservative principle, the petition does not explicitly mention a specific party or ask voters to support a specific candidate.

Therefore, it's feasible Democrats could also participate, and also cash in.