An organization that received $250 million from Mark Zuckerberg and his wife is allegedly giving grants to aid elections in predominantly Democrat-dominant areas, raising partisan accusations. | Adobe Stock
An organization that received $250 million from Mark Zuckerberg and his wife is allegedly giving grants to aid elections in predominantly Democrat-dominant areas, raising partisan accusations. | Adobe Stock
The recent donations totaling $300 million of Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chann, to two nonprofit organizations for the stated purpose of promoting safe voting have raised allegations of Democrat ties within those organizations and the possibility the money might actually be directed in ways that would aim to swing the upcoming election away from Republicans.
The Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), which Ballotpedia noted, has been accused of ties to the Democratic Party, received $250 million of the $300 million.
However, Adams County Board of Elections Director Stephanie Lewis told South Ohio News that its unlikely CTCL’s touch would be felt here.
“I have heard of several groups offering services and grant funding to implement the November 2020 Election,” Lewis told South Ohio News. “Fortunately, we have received grant funding through the Secretary of State that is sufficient to assist in additional costs for this election. Adams County will not be seeking any additional grants from outside entities. We do not work with any outside organizations for assisting with mailing or any procedures concerning our absentee balloting process.”
The Wisconsin Voters Alliance recently filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Election Commission regarding the use of the funds by CTCL, alleging that the organization’s grants are intentionally limited to areas that have traditionally leaned Democratic to boost voter turnout only among Democratic electors.
The press release from the Wisconsin Voters Alliance alleged that, “CTCL is a left-leaning election activist group pushing major government voting initiatives in Democratic strongholds, which raises alarms about the integrity of the November election and demonstrates a present danger in allowing private groups to influence elections.”
Scott Walter, president of the Capital Research Center, is cited by Ballotpedia as alleging that CTCL staffers are former operatives from the Democratic Party whose choices in how to distribute grants betrays their true motives to sway the election. However, CTCL describes itself as, “a nonpartisan nonprofit that uses technology to improve the way local governments and communities interact.”
In addition to Wisconsin locations that have received funding and are Democratic-leaning, the complaint from the Wisconsin Voters Alliance also notes funding that went to Philadelphia, with both Wisconsin and Philadelphia standing as very close wins for Trump in 2016.
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