In a classic case of foot-in-mouth syndrome, tech billionaire Elon Musk found himself at the center of a political storm after making false claims about New York City's electoral process. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO took to his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), to accuse Democratic Socialists of America member Zohran Mamdani of appearing twice on NYC ballots - calling it nothing short of a "scam."
The controversy erupted when Musk shared a screenshot showing Mamdani's name listed multiple times, accompanied by his characteristic blunt commentary. "This is a scam," Musk declared, setting the stage for what would become a massive online correction session.
The Reality of Ranked-Choice Voting
What Musk failed to understand - and what thousands of Twitter users were quick to point out - was New York City's implemented ranked-choice voting system. This electoral method allows voters to rank multiple candidates in order of preference, hence the multiple listings that Musk misinterpreted as fraudulent.
Assemblyman Mamdani himself responded with a mix of amusement and frustration, stating: "It's the ranked choice voting we voted for & you can't stop screaming about." The lawmaker's retort highlighted the irony of Musk criticizing a democratic process he clearly didn't understand.
Twitter Schooling Session Goes Viral
The online community didn't hold back in educating the world's second-richest person. Responses flooded in explaining:
- How ranked-choice voting works in practice
- Why multiple candidate listings are standard procedure
- The benefits of this electoral system for democratic representation
- Basic civics education that apparently even billionaires need
Many users expressed surprise that someone of Musk's intelligence and influence would make such a fundamental error about basic electoral processes. Others questioned why he felt qualified to comment on New York politics given his limited understanding of local voting systems.
Pattern of Political Missteps
This isn't the first time Musk has waded into political waters only to find himself in hot water. The serial entrepreneur has increasingly positioned himself as a political commentator, often making controversial statements about various governments and policies.
However, this latest incident raises questions about whether Musk does adequate research before making public accusations of electoral fraud - especially given his platform's significant influence on public discourse.
The episode serves as a reminder that wealth and technological expertise don't necessarily translate to political wisdom or understanding of democratic processes. As one Twitter user aptly put it: "Maybe stick to rockets and electric cars, Elon."
