A Pennsylvania judge ruled this week that Elon Musk’s political giveaways—a contentious cash lottery aimed at registered voters in swing states—can continue for now. The decision, made by Judge Angelo Foglietta, leaves Musk's America PAC free to keep awarding daily $1 million prizes, as long as a federal court doesn’t step in. But critics argue the stakes are higher than just million-dollar giveaways: the lawsuit filed by Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner alleges Musk’s voter cash prizes blur the lines of electoral law, stirring unease about possible implications for the coming election.

The legal pushback centers on Musk’s America PAC, which has been offering the cash prizes to registered voters who sign a pledge in support of the U.S. Constitution and release personal identifying details like addresses and phone numbers. The cash giveaways cover Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina—all critical swing states in the close contest between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.

On social media, Musk celebrated the ruling with a post reading, “American Justice FTW (for the win)," yet Philadelphia prosecutors aren’t giving up. "This is a matter of state law, and we will continue to push for resolution in state court,” Krasner's attorney, John Summers, told reporters. He added that they were also filing motions to increase security around the case following an outpouring of threatening, antisemitic remarks after Musk reshared a post critical of Krasner.

Amid the legal wrangling, Musk’s PAC announced a new $1 million winner, Dacey from Fremont, North Carolina, adding another layer to the increasingly high-profile controversy. However, Krasner’s lawsuit argues that Musk’s cash lottery is both deceptive and illegal, claiming it unfairly solicits voters’ personal data in exchange for a political “pledge” tied to cash. The lawsuit warns this approach risks creating confusion and divisiveness in a climate already sensitive to election influence and misinformation.

Although U.S. law generally forbids payments for voter registration, experts note Musk’s approach occupies a legal grey area. As election day nears, the case shines a spotlight on concerns about influence, integrity, and the boundaries of electoral tactics. Musk has strongly denied any illegality, emphasizing that recipients don’t need to register as Republicans or even cast a vote to enter the drawing.

The U.S. Department of Justice had warned Musk’s PAC that these giveaways could violate federal election law. Should a court eventually rule against him, Musk might face up to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000. But as it stands, with election day fast approaching, Musk’s cash giveaway continues, leaving voters—and the courts—divided over the program's true impact on the democratic process.