Elon Musk stirred controversy by responding to a social media post claiming an alarming rise in voter registrations without photo ID in key U.S. states. Election authorities from Texas and Arizona swiftly debunked the misinformation, emphasizing the accuracy and integrity of voter registration processes.
The contentious post, shared by a far-right account that Musk frequently engages with, suggested a dramatic increase in registrations without photo IDs in Arizona, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
It referenced data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), part of the 2004-established “Help America Vote Verification” program, which aids states in validating voter registrations lacking driver’s licenses or other photo IDs.
Elon Musk, X Owner (Credits: Britannica)
The post insinuated that over two million voters in the mentioned states had their identities verified through the SSA since early 2024, hinting at illegal immigrants utilizing social security cards for registration due to their inability to obtain licenses.
Stephen Richer, a Maricopa County Recorder and a Republican, took to social media to correct Musk, explaining the actual voter registration figures and the verification process.
A more affluent, self-proclaimed fan of Musk’s products clarified that only around 60,000 new voters had registered in Arizona this year, with Maricopa County accounting for approximately 39,653.
He also noted Arizona’s citizenship requirement for voter registration and the limited use of social security numbers for identity proof, which places some voters on a “federal only” list. This list is relatively small, contradicting the claims of mass registrations without proper ID.
Jane Nelson, Texas Secretary of State, labeled the SSA’s figures as “clearly incorrect” and announced an investigation into the data discrepancy.
A Voter Voting (Credits: NPR)
She affirmed that only 57,711 voters had been added to Texas’s rolls since 2024 began, debunking the claim of 1.2 million ID-less registrations. Nelson’s statement highlighted the requirement for a driver’s license number or a verified Social Security number for voter registration in Texas.
Pennsylvania was also mentioned in the disputed post, with the SSA data indicating 530,518 instances. However, the Pennsylvania Department of State had not commented at the time.
The incident underscores the challenges of combating misinformation in the digital age, especially concerning electoral integrity. It also illustrates the commitment of election officials to clarify misconceptions and ensure public confidence in the voting process.
