Musk voted by mail in November 2016, the year Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, and in the November 2018 midterm election, the records show. Musk’s primary residence was in Los Angeles at the time.

The state records show that Musk had a sparse history of voting in California. During the 18 years he was eligible to vote there, he cast ballots in only those two elections. He became eligible to vote when he became a U.S. citizen in 2002 and cast his first ballot 14 years later, at age 45. He was actively registered to vote by August 2006, the records show.

Among the elections Musk skipped were presidential races in which Barack Obama, John McCain and Mitt Romney were on the ballot, all primary elections and all local elections. California has an open primary system in which all registered voters are allowed to participate.

A fine, patriotic American who definitely belongs in Trump’s cabinet.

  • qjkxbmwvz@startrek.website
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    4 months ago

    California has optional mail ballots for everyone. Can’t imagine voting without it — I can fill out my ballot at my leisure, researching measures when I have time. No need to remember anything or make a cheat sheet for election day. And no standing in line.

    • [email protected]@lemmy.federate.cc
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      4 months ago

      This is especially necessary in California due to the ballot proposition thing. For those unfamiliar, California lets citizens put new laws on the ballot if they collect enough signatures. So each year the ballot there can be dozens and dozens of pages as you read through each of these somewhat lengthy measures. It takes ages in the voting booth, so doing so by mail is way better.

    • stoly@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      In Washington it’s required. No polling locations except a couple headquarters locations where you can submit provisional ballots and such if there’s something last moment that comes up.

  • MerchantsOfMisery@lemmy.ml
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    4 months ago

    I’m glad I’m so past the point of even trying to explain the hypocrisy to people that still give assholes like this the benefit of the doubt. Remember when the Hyperloop came out and so many people insisted it was the way of the future? 🙄

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOP
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      4 months ago

      That was so stupid. I thought it was stupid at the time. Just make regular high speed rail. That’s all we need.

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        Some places have been trying to get high speed rail for decades - when I was in Florida in the 90s we even had it on a ballot and the public wanted it overwhelmingly. Then the politicians came back and said it’s too costly. Connecting some places would have paid off the construction multiple times and helped the state economy. I can only assume that there’s people invested in building and maintaining roads that have lobbyists to keep them the “preferred” transportation option.

        • Revan343@lemmy.ca
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          4 months ago

          I doubt it’s the road builders; it’s oil companies, and to a lesser extent car manufacturers

          • Rhaedas@fedia.io
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            4 months ago

            It’s always oil companies, isn’t it? If I get a time machine, I’m going back to the early Carboniferous period and introduce the missing bacteria that would have decayed plants and minimized fossil fuel buildup.

            • smeenz@lemmy.nz
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              4 months ago

              While you’re there, probably best to find the first primate, and stomp on it.

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                4 months ago

                That’s the beautiful part, change the direction far back enough there may not be primates at all.

            • Revan343@lemmy.ca
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              4 months ago

              It is always the oil companies, yes. I’ll give you ten bucks if you can find a societal problem that I can’t trace back to oil companies. Not counting homophobia, that one is a conservative religious problem

      • TimLovesTech (AuDHD)(he/him)@badatbeing.social
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        4 months ago

        The whole idea was to crush public transportation, which Elon despises. He never intended to make a thing that worked, it was to take money away from something that would benefit the masses instead of the rich.

  • Alwaysnownevernotme@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I would love to hear Elon explain the complete process that is mail in voting.

    The process is actually more secure than in person voting. Especially on a machine.

  • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
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    4 months ago

    But he’s a genius. We should emulate him. Quick, let’s vote by mail and interview a presidential candidate.

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    4 months ago

    Elon also took massive subsidies for Spacex and Tesla. The only reason both companies successed. He believes it is OK for him but no one else. A very common theme for the thin skin man.

  • lennybird@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I hope he continues calling it insane. This stunts Republican turnout as it did in 2020!