Citizens Election Research Center

All posts by Jody Weierholt

The Daily Signal – Article: ‘Zuckerbucks’ Hit Small Towns as Tech Group Finances More Election Offices

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Article: ‘Zuckerbucks’ tech group financing election offices in rural counties

The Center for Tech and Civic Life—which four years ago doled out controversial election grants that became known as “Zuckerbucks”—recently notified White Pine County, Nevada, of a $20,000 grant. 

The county, in a major battleground state going into the Nov. 5 presidential election, has a population of about 9,000 and is part of what the Left-aligned center calls its Rural and Nonmetro Election Infrastructure Grant Program. 

The notification to White Pine County came with a message from Tiana Epps-Johnson, CTCL’s executive director, and an agreement on how the $20,000 grant could be used. 

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‘Zuckerbucks’ Hit Small Towns as Tech Group Finances More Election Offices – Reader ModeDownload
The Daily Signal – Article: The Left Lauded Voting by Mail in 2020, but Now It’s a Bipartisan Concern

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Article: Democrat and Republican election officials are raising concerns about whether the U.S. Postal Service is prepared for mail-in ballots. 

In the 2020 presidential election, the Left staunchly promoted voting by mail and scoffed at critics of the option. In 2024, however, Democrat and Republican election officials, as well as an inspector general, are raising concerns about whether the U.S. Postal Service is prepared for mail-in ballots. 

Last week, election officials from both major parties expressed concern about mail-in ballots, the same week the National Letter Carriers Association—which represents 290,000 active and retired mail carriers—endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president. In July, the American Postal Workers Union, representing 200,000 Postal Service employees, endorsed Harris. 

Earlier this year, the Postal Service Office of Inspector General expressed concern about the “risk of delays in the processing and delivery” of election-related mail as well as “operational changes that pose a risk of individual ballots not being counted.”

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The Left Lauded Voting by Mail in 2020, but Now It’s a Bipartisan Concern – Reader ModeDownload
The Federalist – Article: ‘Zuckbucks’ Group Coached Madison Clerk On ‘Combating Election Misinformation’

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Article: City clerk in major swing state Wisconsin received training from a “Zuckbucks” group on “combating election misinformation”

The Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) funneled hundreds of millions of dollars from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to public election agencies in 2020, favoring left-leaning areas in key swing states and boosting Democrat turnout. The group launched the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence in 2022 to coordinate with other leftist groups and “systematically influence every aspect of election administration in target offices,” as revealed in an Honest Elections Project report.

The office of Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl has a history of involvement with both CTCL and the Alliance. After participating in a CTCL training aimed at “combating” so-called “election misinformation,” Witzel-Behl continued to participate in the group’s “misinformation” programming in the months leading up to the 2024 election, emails obtained by The Federalist in a Freedom of Information Act request suggest. Meanwhile, Witzel-Behl’s office recently sent out more than 2,200 duplicate ballots to residents last month.

Witzel-Behl “previously participated in [the group’s] Combating Election Misinformation training,” according to a June 11 email from Andrea Abbate, a CTCL associate director and communications manager. Sophie Lehman, a CTCL associate director, also sent the clerk an email on July 10 promoting an upcoming webinar on “Combating Election Misinformation.”

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Emails_ ‘Zuckbucks’ Group Coached WI Clerk On ‘Misinformation’ – Reader ModeDownload
The Nevada Globe – Article: Douglas County Awarded $50,000 Grant From Mark Zuckerberg’s Nonprofit For Election Security

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Article: The republican stronghold of Douglas County has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life 

The republican stronghold of Douglas County has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Center for Technology and Civic Life (CTCL) for election support and security needs ahead of the general election in November. After CTCL donated and directed ~$400 million in “Zuckerbucks” into the 2020 election to support county election offices in primarily blue districts, 28 legislatures have banned the practice of taking nonprofit money to run elections.

The grant was uncovered through an open-records request submitted by Silver State Times. According to the report, Douglas County Grants Administrator Debbie Swickard applied for the grant on August 19, stating:

“As a rural County with limited funding a grant award will help us fill the gaps to purchase needed items for security. Being pro-active to mitigate any possible threat we would like to purchase transport carts for mail ballots and bullet proof glass for our election public counter. We are also in need for tables and shelving systems for our processing facility as well as tables for our vote centers. We are extremely grateful for any funding to help us maintain fair and safe elections for Douglas County.”

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Douglas County Awarded $50,000 Grant From Mark Zuckerberg’s NonProfit For Election Security – Nevada Globe – Reader ModeDownload
Restoration News – Article: Zuck Bucks Live Again in Nevada, Just in Time to Help Kamala’s Failing Campaign

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Article: Once again, Democrats are showing why our country must ban private funding for elections—and they’re using a Republican clerk to prove it

The Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL)—the infamous group behind the 2020 “Zuck bucks” wave of private election grants that boosted Democratic turnout in key states—is at it again, this time with a new grant in Nevada, according to documents obtained by the Coalition Opposing Government Secrecy (COGS), a St. Louis-based government transparency watchdog.

This time, however, it was made possible by a Republican clerk known for castigating her constituents as lying “Kool-Aid drinkers.”

On Aug. 19, CTCL awarded $50,000 to Douglas County, Nevada, for “planning and operationalizing reliable and secure election administration . . . in 2024.” In return, CTCL’s grant application requires Douglas County to surrender information on its election operations, including a post-election report due by Jan. 31, 2025.

This language mirrors grants provided to thousands of county election offices in 2020 from CTCL, which received $350 million from billionaire mega-donor Mark Zuckerberg ostensibly to “fortify” the election amidst COVID-19. In fact, it helped juice Democratic turnout in key swing states, enough to oust President Trump from the White House, as analysis (including my own in early 2021) has demonstrated over and again.

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BREAKING_ Zuck Bucks Live Again in Nevada, Just in Time to Help Kamala’s Failing Campaign – Reader ModeDownload
The Federalist – Article: ‘Zuckbucks’ Group Acts As A Shadow Legislature In Rural America

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Article: Applications for the new round of CTCL grants opened in August. The organization has approved election funding in these jurisdictions.

The Center for Tech and Civic Life, which funneled millions in “Zuckbucks” to local election agencies in 2020 through grants favoring Democrat areas, recently announced another round of grants to “rural and nonmetro” election offices ahead of November. The leftist group has awarded grants to at least 11 jurisdictions so far, cultivating relationships with election officials while effectively taking on the legislature’s job of appropriating funds for elections.

Applications for the new round of CTCL grants opened Aug. 2, and the organization has so far approved election funding in at least the following jurisdictions: Colorado (San Juan County); Massachusetts (Orange); Maine (Belgrade, Caribou, Farmington, and West Paris); Minnesota (Nobles County); Nevada (White Pine County); New Hampshire (Meredith and Plymouth); and Vermont (Washington).

Many of these election officials expressed the need for funding and infrastructure, and CTCL has effectively taken on the role of a shadow legislature, granting money to fill the perceived needs of election officials. Doing so allows the group, which was responsible for election meddling to benefit Democrats in 2020, to curry favor with those officials.

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‘Zuckbucks’ Group Acting As Shadow Legislature In Rural America – Reader ModeDownload
The Federalist – Article: Here We Go Again: ‘Zuckbucks’ Group Announces Plans To Dump More Cash Into Election Offices

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Article: The Center for Tech and Civic Life, which influenced the 2020 election with “Zuckbucks,” announced another round of grants before November.

The Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), which increased Democratic turnout in 2020 by shuttling “Zuckbucks” to public election offices, will be issuing another round of grants to rural areas ahead of November’s election.

“This program will help eligible rural and nonmetro election offices modernize outdated voting technology, improve access to voting for rural voters, seniors, and veterans, and make much-needed infrastructure updates to enhance election security and make voting smoother,” said CTCL Director Tiana Epps-Johnson in a press release obtained by The Federalist.

Rural officials can apply for grants beginning today, the release said. It is unclear how much money CTCL is planning to distribute to local election offices before the election. 

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‘Zuckbucks’ Group To Dump More Cash Into Election Offices – Reader ModeDownload
The Federalist – Article: ‘Zuckbucks’ Org Promotes $6 Million Election Grant From Left-Wing Dark Money Group

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Article: The Institute for Responsive Government is offering officials $6 million in election grants, promoted by CTCL.

The Center for Tech and Civic Life, which funneled millions in “Zuckbucks” to election officials in 2020, is promoting a $6 million election grant program from a left-wing dark money group with which it shares close ties.

“We wanted you to be aware that the Institute for Responsive Government (IRG) launched A More Responsive Government 2024 Grant Program, a new, nonpartisan $6 million grant program that aims to support local election offices,” said an Aug. 21 CTCL email obtained by The Federalist.

The email, apparently directed to election officials, noted the funding is “not a CTCL grant program.” CTCL funneled $328 million from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to public election agencies in 2020, using “Zuckbucks” to target areas with likely left-leaning voting blocs and boost Democratic turnout. 

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‘Zuckbucks’ Org Promotes $6M Dark Money Election Grant – Reader ModeDownload
Wisconsin – The Federalist – Article: WI City at Center Of ‘Zuckbucks’ Scandal Looks To Tap Leftist Lawfare Groups Ahead of Election

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Article: Green Bay has earned a dubious election integrity reputation thanks to Democrat Mayor Eric Genrich and his election law-smashing city clerk.

The leftist-led Wisconsin city at the epicenter of the 2020 “Zuckbucks” scandal is again looking to enlist the assistance of far left lawfare firms ahead of November’s election. 

A deeply divided Green Bay City Council last week voted 7-4 to retain the services of outside legal counsel to assist the city attorney in the expected litigation surrounding Green Bay’s administration of the contentious election. There’s good reason to expect litigation.

Wisconsin’s third-largest city isn’t just the home to a world-class NFL franchise and award-winning cheeses. Green Bay has earned a dubious election integrity reputation thanks to highly partisan Democrat Mayor Eric Genrich and his election law-smashing city clerk. Now, Genrich and crew — accused of spying on their political enemies among other troubling allegations — appear to be doubling down on Green Bay’s soiled elections reputation with the move to hire left-wing law firms. 

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WI-City-Looks-To-Tap-Leftist-Lawfare-Attorneys-Ahead-Of-Election-Reader-ModeDownload
How To Submit a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act Request)

CERC Director Ned Jones goes through the steps of submitting a FOIA request for the Citizen’s Election Research Center.