States Restricted Private Funding Of Elections

Nearly 20 States have Restricted Private Funding of Elections.

Two years ago, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, donated nearly half a billion dollars to a pair of Nonprofits, which then distributed the Money to States to support Election Administration.

The Money was desperately needed to cover the Costs necessitated by a Pandemic-era Election. Since then, many States controlled by Republican Legislatures, have Outlawed such money, arguing it could Interfere with the Integrity of Elections.

But with a lack of Regular Funding from the Federal Government, those States may be hard pressed to pay for Election Workers, Equipment, and Safety Supplies, among other Costs.

Since 2021, 15 States have instituted Prohibitions on Private Funding for Elections, according to the Capital Research Center, a right-leaning Think Tank. Similar Bills are awaiting the Governor’s Signature in Alabama and Missouri, while Texas and West Virginia have created Regulations instead of Bans.

All of these States have Republican Governors, except Kansas and Kentucky. Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the Kansas Bill, but the Legislature overrode her action. And in Kentucky, the Bill allows State Officials to make Exceptions for some outside Funding instead of instituting an outright Ban.

The National Institute for Civil Discourse noted in a recent Report that “a consensus exists within the election administration community that elections are underfunded nationwide, even if they are more underfunded in some places than others.”

According to that Report, States spend about the same amount on Eelections as they spend on Public Parking Facilities. And with the Federal Government only sporadically contributing Funds, Private Donations played a key role in Closing the gap during the 2020 cycle.

A group of Democratic Senators introduced a Bill last week that would provide $20 billion in Federal Funds for Election Administration. But the Legislation faces a difficult path to approval in the Senate.

But Conservatives have been fighting against Private Funding almost since the announcement from Zuckerberg and Chan, arguing that such “privatization” undermines Elections.

The Thomas More Society is still trying to get the Court system to Declare the use of Zuckerberg-Chan Funds Illegal in Wisconsin, although so far they have failed to win their Case.

With Legal Battles failing, Legislation has proved to be a more successful path for People trying to Cut-Off Private Funding.

Georgia and Kansas were the First to enact Bans, in March 2001, followed a month later by Arizona, Arkansas, and Georgia.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker