Zuckbucks Group Blames Funding Ban for Helene’s Election Fallout
The article discusses the “Zuckbucks” group, which is attributing potential election problems to bans on private funding for election activities, particularly in light of the disruptions caused by Hurricane Helene. Tiana Epps-Johnson, director of the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), claimed that many election offices affected by the hurricane are located in states that have prohibited philanthropic funding without a corresponding increase in public funding. The CTCL had previously distributed over $320 million in funding from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to enhance election operations in 2020, primarily in Democratic-leaning areas. Following concerns over third-party involvement in elections, 28 states have since implemented such bans.
In response to the hurricane’s impact, Epps-Johnson has called for immediate public funds to be allocated to the affected states and emphasized the need for Congress to provide more consistent funding for election offices. The CTCL also requested emergency support from the National Security Council to assist these offices. Furthermore, they suggested measures for state election officials, such as waiving certain restrictions and offering support for training poll workers. The article points out the broader implications of these funding strategies and the politicization surrounding election administration amidst ongoing recovery efforts from the hurricane.
A “Zuckbucks” group is blaming bans on private election funding for potential election issues in November, leveraging the disastrous fallout of Hurricane Helene to push for more funding.
“Many election offices that were damaged by Hurricane Helene are in states that have banned philanthropic funding for election administration without a commensurate increase in state funding,” wrote Center for Tech and Civic Life Director Tiana Epps-Johnson in an email on Thursday, which was obtained by The Federalist.
CTCL shuttled over $320 million from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to public election officials in 2020, targeting left-leaning areas and boosting Democrat turnout. Due to concerns of third-party meddling, 28 states have since banned election funding like Zuckbucks. These states include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, which are still recovering from Hurricane Helene.
In addition to blaming Zuckbucks bans for obstacles to post-hurricane election administration, Epps-Johson urged that “immediate public funds” be sent to the six affected state election departments to “get elections back online.” “In the long term,” she demanded that Congress provide “more regular funding to election offices.” The email referenced a letter CTCL sent in May, demanding $400 million from Congress for the upcoming election.
The group referred recipients to a guide on elections in areas affected by the hurricane. It said CTCL has asked the National Security Council for an immediate $500,000 to each affected state’s election office, drawn from either Department of Homeland Security or FEMA funds.
The guide concluded with a call for Congress and state legislatures to offer “emergency funding” and adopt permissive election policies.
“This is a critical part of a wrap-around strategy that state elections leaders and legislators may consider, such as waiving geographic or partisan poll worker restrictions, offering virtual poll worker training, or adjusting timelines to help offices meet staffing and other needs,” the guide read.
CTCL launched the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence in 2022 to coordinate with other leftist groups and influence election officials ahead of November. CTCL has since announced a new round of “rural and nonmetro” election grants, as The Federalist reported, and promoted similar grants from the leftist Institute for Responsive Government.
CTCL grew from the now-defunct New Organizing Institute — the “Democratic Party’s Hogwarts for digital wizardry.” It takes funding from left-wing groups like the Democracy Fund, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Skoll Foundation, along with the New Venture Fund and the Hopewell Fund of dark money giant Arabella Advisors.
For more election news and updates, visit electionbriefing.com.
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