Just before the New York City mayoral election, billionaire Elon Musk has stirred controversy by questioning the election process. Musk highlighted that the name of Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani appears twice on the ballot paper.
Describing it as a 'scam', Musk commented on the lack of voter ID requirements and the repeated appearance of certain candidates' names. However, social media reacted swiftly, clarifying to Musk that this is legally permissible.
On Tuesday night, on X (formerly Twitter), Musk posted, encouraging voters to support former Governor Andrew Cuomo. He remarked, “Remember, a vote for Curtis is effectively a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is. Vote Cuomo!”
His statement was criticized as racist on social media due to the mispronunciation of Zohran Mamdani’s name.
Zohran Mamdani is known for his Democratic Socialist agenda, advocating for higher taxes on billionaires, corporate reform, and public services expansion. Hence, his potential victory raises concerns among New York's wealthy and tech sectors.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump also targeted Mamdani. In an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, he stated, “I can tolerate a lousy Democrat, but not a Communist.”
Trump warned that if New York becomes overly socialist, federal funding to the city might be stopped.
Social media users heavily criticized Musk's allegations. Many explained the “Fusion Voting System” in New York, which allows a candidate's name to appear multiple times on the ballot for different party endorsements.
For instance, a candidate might receive support from both the Democratic Party and the Working Families Party, with their name appearing on both lines. But votes cast on any party line ultimately go to the same candidate.
This system has been legally implemented for decades in New York. However, voters unfamiliar with it often become confused, and this confusion was apparent in Musk's tweets.
