Democrats in the Minnesota House of Representatives voted down an amendment that would have banned so-called “Zuckerbucks” from Minnesota elections.
In 2020, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, and his wife donated $250 million to a nonprofit called the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL). CTCL proceeded to hand out those millions of dollars to election departments across the country in the form of grants.
CTCL’s grants went to these jurisdictions for the purpose of providing additional election administration funding during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local election departments used the grants during the 2020 election to pay for supplies, staffing, COVID-related “personal protection equipment,” and other expenses.
In Minnesota, many county election departments across the state received “Zuckerbucks” in the form of grants from CTCL.
However, Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature and throughout the country have strongly criticized the presence and use of “Zuckerbucks.” Warning about the dangers of outside forces influencing election administration, Republican lawmakers have worked to keep nonprofit groups and billionaires from being able to fund election administration efforts.
On Monday, Rep. Pam Altendorf, R-Red Wing, offered an amendment to the elections policy bill that would ban “Zuckerbucks” in Minnesota.
Specifically, Rep. Altendorf’s amendment would have prevented government jurisdictions from accepting or receiving a financial “contribution, in any form, from a for-profit business or a nonprofit organization made for the purpose of paying expenses associated with conducting a federal, state, or local election.”
Rep. Altendorf offered an amendment tonight that would've banned private financing of our elections known as "Zuckerbucks." It failed 63-68.
"If you vote no on this amendment, you're saying that Minnesota's elections are for sale to the highest bidder." pic.twitter.com/k1FJfr6CrD
— MN House Republicans (@mnhousegop) April 9, 2024
As such, local election departments would administer elections using only the public funds allocated to them.
Speaking to her amendment, Rep. Altendorf said 28 states have already banned jurisdictions from accepting private donations for the purpose of administering elections.
Rep. Mike Freiberg, D-Golden Valley, the chief author of the elections bill Rep. Altendorf was trying to amend, spoke against the Republican amendment, saying, “this language has been around for a few years, and it responds to an issue that, quite simply, is not a problem.”
The Golden Valley legislator proceeded to say that the CTCL’s program of awarding grants to election departments has “been discontinued.” However, Rep. Freiberg did note that the nonprofit funds which were handed out were distributed to address “financial strains on election administration.”
Additionally, Rep. Freiberg said the language of Rep. Altendorf’s amendment was too broad and could prevent organizations such as churches and schools from providing voting sites for Election Day.
Rep. Altendorf subsequently implored her colleagues to support her amendment, saying “If you vote ‘no’ on this amendment, you are saying that the Minnesota elections can go to the highest bidder.”
On a partisan basis, Rep. Altendorf’s amendment was defeated by a vote of 63-68.
The elections policy bill, known as HF 4772, was eventually passed by Democrats in the Minnesota House of Representatives in a partisan vote; 69-62. HF 4772 contained many left-wing election provisions supported by the so-called “Inclusive Democracy Caucus.”
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
