Wisconsin's attorney general has asked the state's liberal-controlled Supreme Court to stop billionaire Elon Musk from handing out $1 million (£772,000) cheques to two voters. The appeal came just hours before the supporter of President Donald Trump was scheduled to hand out the cheques at an event later in the evening.
On Saturday, two lower courts rejected a lawsuit by Democrat Josh Kaul that Musk's initiative violated a state law prohibiting giving anything of value in exchange for a vote.
A tight election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court is underway Tuesday that could change the ideological balance on the court. Liberals currently hold a 4-3 majority.
At a planned rally in Green Bay, Mr. Musk promised to hand out checks to voters who signed an online petition against “activist” judges.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk are backing Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel in his race for a Supreme Court seat, while Democrats are backing Dane County Judge Susan Crawford.
Mr Trump and organisations he backs have spent more than $20m (£15m) supporting Mr Schimel in his election campaign.
Among the justices who must decide the issue is an incumbent liberal whose resignation this year set off a race for the vacant seat and control of the court.
The contest set national records for spending on a judicial election, totalling more than $81 million (£62 million).
Mr. Musk's political action committee employed a nearly identical strategy before last year's presidential election, offering to pay $1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and six other swing states who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments.
A Pennsylvania judge said prosecutors failed to prove the campaign was an illegal lottery and allowed it to continue until Election Day.
The judicial elections coincide with pending decisions from Wisconsin's highest court on issues of abortion, congressional redistricting, union powers and voting rules that could impact the state's 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
