Wisconsin voters have approved two election-related amendments to the state constitution in a recent ballot. One of the amendments bans the use of private money in elections, a move that has been supported by Republican lawmakers aiming to change voting rules in the state before the upcoming presidential election in November.
This decision is seen as a victory for conservative activists who have criticized the use of what they refer to as 'Zuckerbucks.' These funds, donated by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, were given to a nonprofit organization called the Center for Tech and Civic Life. The $350 million donation, which included approximately $10 million allocated to Wisconsin jurisdictions, was utilized to support election administration across the country during the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
While grant administrators emphasized that the distribution of funds was impartial and based on need rather than partisanship, opponents argue that the money may have influenced Democratic voter turnout in the 2020 election, leading to an outcome that favored Joe Biden over Donald Trump in Wisconsin.
In the aftermath of Trump's loss in 2020, he and his supporters have repeatedly alleged, without evidence, that election fraud played a role in his defeat in Wisconsin.
Additionally, voters in Wisconsin have also approved another constitutional amendment that restricts election administration to officials designated by state law. Advocates of this measure believe it is necessary to prevent external consultants from participating in the electoral process. However, critics have raised concerns about potential unintended consequences, such as limiting the ability of local clerks to accept donated supplies or use privately owned buildings as polling places.
Furthermore, opponents highlight that the approved amendments do not guarantee increased government funding to support election operations once private funding sources are restricted.
