The Georgia State Election Board voted to issue a formal letter of reprimand on 18 February 2026 to America Political Action Committee or America PAC, a political organization founded by Tesla and SpaceX honcho and billionaire Elon Musk, following an investigation into illegal mailing practices during the 2024 presidential election cycle in Georgia.
America PAC of Elon Musk Was Involved in Illegal Mailing Practices According to the Georgia State Election Board
Pre-Filled Absentee Ballot Applications from America PAC
Note that the investigation, cataloged as Case SEB2024-151, was initiated by the Secretary of State of Georgia as early as October 2024 in response to numerous reports from Georgia residents. The residents specifically claimed that they received unsolicited mailers containing partially pre-filled absentee ballot applications from America PAC.
State officials identified that these mailers violated Section 21-2-381 of the Georgia Code. This particular section prohibits unauthorized third parties from pre-filling voter information on ballot applications. The law restricts pre-filing of voter information strictly to authorized relatives to ensure the integrity of the ballot application and voting process.
Nevertheless, during a public meeting held in Barrow County on February 18, 2026, the Georgia State Election Board reviewed evidence against America PAC. James Mills, the executive director of the board, confirmed that the applications were indeed partially pre-filled, thus bypassing and violating the legal requirements stated in the Georgia Code.
Janice Johnston, vice chair of the electoral board, moreover revealed and explained that the political organization failed to include mandatory disclaimers. It is worth noting that the Georgia Code also requires a conspicuous notice stating that such documents are not official government publications and were not provided by state authorities.
The illegal mailers were reported in several key battleground counties. These included Cherokee, Whitfield, Floyd, Chattooga, and Coweta. Residents in these areas expressed doubts and confusion over the official-looking documents, thereby compelling local election administrators to evaluate and consider the potential legal violations of America PAC.
Billionaire Elon Musk as Founder and Funder of America PAC
Musk reportedly funneled more than 250 million U.S. dollars into America PAC during the 2024 presidential election cycle to support the nationwide presidential campaign of Donald Trump. The political organization utilized aggressive and technology-driven campaigning tactics that have drawn the ire of the state-level election regulatory body in Georgia.
Observers have pointed out the irony in the situation. Musk has used his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to promote election integrity and call out individuals and organizations who he deems as perpetrators of election violation law and voter fraud. His criticisms targeted groups and systems in both the United States and other countries.
It is still worth noting that the culpability of Musk remains undetermined. A letter of reprimand also carries no immediate criminal penalty but serves as a prerequisite for harsher fines in the future. Specifically, should America PAC repeat the same violation, the board can impose civil penalties of up to 5000 U.S. dollars for every individual violation.
Section 21-2-33.1 of the Georgia Code gives the Georgia State Election Board several defined enforcement powers. A letter of reprimand is one of their primary tools for addressing violations of the Election Code. It is both a disciplinary notice and a public record that serves as a formal and legal confirmation that a violation has been committed.
Moreover, because the law allows the board to combine a letter of reprimand with civil penalties and fines of up to 5000 U.S. dollars per violation, the financial cost to offenders can be substantial. For example, because the particular America PAC case involved thousands of mailers across counties, the board could have theoretically pursued massive fines.
FURTHER READING AND REFERENCE
- Georgia State Election Board. 18 February 2026. “February 18, 2026 State Election Board Meeting.” YouTube. Available online