FACT BRIEF

Did Facebook’s founder help fund election expenses in major swing states?

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

By Laura Brickman

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YES

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan during 2020 donated a total of $400 million to the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a non-partisan election security non-profit, to “ensure safe, healthy election options for voters in every corner of the country” amid pandemic-related challenges.

CTCL said that it planned to use the funds to support recruitment, staffing, training and other needs related to safely running elections during a pandemic. “Every qualified jurisdiction that applies will be approved for the funds,“ it said.

Conservative legal groups sought to block the grants, so far unsuccessfully. A Wisconsin federal judge rejected one such attempt in October, noting that in addition to five largely Democratic cities more than 100 other Wisconsin towns had received the funding. In Iowa, county officials said the funds weren't being used for any partisan purpose.

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Sources

Center for Tech and Civic Life: CTCL receives additional $100 million to support work of election officials

CTCL: COVID-19 response grants

The Hill: Conservative groups seek to block Facebook election grants in four swing states

Urban Milwaukee: Judge rejects challenge to election grants

Quad City Times: Federal judge denies motion to block private grants for two Iowa counties

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