The DeKalb County Board of Voter Registration and Elections has found itself in hot water after accepting a $2 million donation from a group directly linked to Mark Zuckerberg. This donation was found to be in violation of state law, which prohibits private entities from providing funding for election administration.
The donation was made by the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a group that received over $350 million in donations from Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. The funds were meant to help local election officials manage the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020 elections.
However, this move has been met with criticism as it is seen as an attempt by Zuckerberg to influence the outcome of the elections. Many have accused him of using his wealth and influence to sway the results in favor of his preferred candidates.
Just the News noted,
DeKalb’s acceptance of the private funds “is a violation of S.B. 202,” Raffensperger told Just the News on Thursday, referring to Georgia’s 2021 election reform law.
“The legislative intent of S.B. 202 was to preclude any outside organizations from sending, directly, money to counties for election purposes,” the state’s top election official said, noting “the wording of S.B. 202 is the money should be sent to the secretary of state’s office,” then dispensed to the counties.
S.B. 202 provides, in part, that “No superintendent shall take or accept any funding, grants, or gifts from any source other than from the governing authority of the county or municipality, the State of Georgia, or the federal government.”
The DeKalb County Board of Voter Registration and Elections has since acknowledged that they should not have accepted the donation and have returned it. They have also promised to ensure that such violations do not occur again in future elections.
This incident highlights the need for transparency and accountability in our electoral processes. It is important that all parties involved adhere to state laws and regulations governing campaign finance. Any attempts at influencing or manipulating election outcomes must be condemned and punished accordingly.
As we approach future elections, it is important for voters to educate themselves on these issues and hold their elected officials accountable. We must demand transparency, fairness, and integrity in our electoral processes if we are to maintain a healthy democracy.