In what could be the most high-stakes popularity contest in history, Tesla shareholders are embroiled in a two-month battle over the reinstatement of Elon Musk’s record $56 billion pay package. Following a Delaware state judge’s ruling voiding the compensation as improperly awarded, shareholders are now casting ballots online ahead of the automaker’s annual meeting in Austin, Texas.

The crux of the debate lies in whether shareholders should approve a pay package originally sanctioned in 2018 but later deemed illegal under Delaware corporate laws. With Musk’s compensation package 250 times larger than the median among his peers, according to the judge, the vote has garnered intense scrutiny and public and private lobbying efforts from both sides.

Tesla has employed unprecedented tactics, including advertisements and a dedicated website, to rally support for the package, while Musk’s backers have mobilized through online campaigns and individual outreach. Despite Musk’s assertion of overwhelming support from retail shareholders, opposition to the package has also emerged, with institutional investors and proxy advisory firms voicing concerns over its size and legality.

The vote is not merely a referendum on Musk’s compensation but also a test of investor confidence in his leadership amid mounting controversies and diverging views on governance and transparency. With Musk’s threat to leave Tesla if additional shares are not granted and the potential implications of the vote on the company’s future, shareholders face a complex decision that transcends mere popularity.

As the final votes are tallied and anticipation mounts, the outcome of the shareholder vote will reverberate far beyond Tesla’s boardroom, shaping the trajectory of one of the world’s most prominent tech companies and potentially setting precedents for corporate governance and executive compensation in the years to come.