Elon Musk has attacked voting by mail, even though new reporting has confirmed that the SpaceX and X owner has voted by mail himself in the past.
Musk’s comments come as he has increasingly spread voter fraud conspiracies. Critics have shot back against Musk’s statements about voting by mail, as they have pointed out that he has no proof that this voting method is unsafe.
Musk Blasts Voting by Mail
Recently, Musk attacked voting by mail, calling it an “insane” idea and insinuating that it encourages voter fraud.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk posted, “In the USA, you don’t need government issued ID to vote and you can mail in your ballot. This is insane.”
Voter Registration Form Requirements
Many critics of Musk have pointed out that his tweet about mail-in ballots is incorrect. Standard voter registration forms require applicants to provide ID numbers.
While states have various rules themselves, most registrations also ask for either a driver’s license number, a Social Security number, or a state identification number.
States Have Different Rules
However, every state varies on what they ask voters to show proof of when they register to vote.
For example, California requires some first-time voters to mail in copies of their IDs when they vote by mail. Meanwhile, Texas asks for ID information when voters use mail-in options.
Musk Voted by Mail in the Past
Many critics have blasted Musk himself after learning that he has voted by mail in past elections.
According to California state records, Musk voted by mail at least twice, during the November 2016 general elections and November 2018 midterm elections.
Musk’s Voting History
State records have also shed light on Musk’s voting history — or, rather, lack of it. For much of the 18 years that Musk was eligible to vote in California, he only voted in two elections.
While Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002, and therefore could vote, he didn’t vote for the first time until 14 years later.
Critics Point to Musk’s History
This revelation that Musk has voted by mail in the only two elections he’s voted in has caused many critics to further allege that Musk is pushing a narrative that is inaccurate.
In response to initial reporting of his voting history, Musk only said, “Voting by mail has been recognized as an invitation to fraud throughout the world.”
Allegations of Voter Fraud
Musk’s inaccurate statements about mail-in voting encouraging fraud have been disputed various times.
However, Musk has repeatedly pushed this narrative, stating that mail-in voting is unreliable and can create fraud. No investigations have found this to be true.
Musk’s Previous Inaccurate Statements
Earlier this year, Musk also made an inaccurate comment on X about mail-in voting, suggesting that it didn’t exist before the COVID-19 pandemic. This is inaccurate — and Musk himself partook in this voting method before the pandemic.
He wrote on X, “Widespread voting by mail (not allowed before the scamdemic) makes proving fraud almost impossible.”
Is There Any Evidence of Voter Fraud?
Various investigations and countless studies have been done over the last few years on voter fraud, especially after public figures like former President Donald Trump have claimed that fraud is rampant in the U.S.
However, no evidence of widespread voter fraud has ever been found in the country. Investigations have also found that fraud from mail-in voting is incredibly rare.
Criminal Cases Have Occurred
In the rare instances where voting fraud has occurred, officials have been able to quickly press charges against those committing these crimes.
For example, a voter fraud scheme in North Carolina was pursued by prosecutors successfully, proving that those who partake in these schemes will be held accountable.
Musk and Trump
Musk’s comments about voter fraud echo similar statements made by Trump, who continues to claim that the 2020 election — in which President Joe Biden won — was stolen from him.
In recent months, Musk has allied himself with Trump, publicly endorsing him for president and even running a Super PAC for the former president.
