Natural State News

Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas State Legislature are hoping to prevent future elections from receiving questionable funding from outside organizations – as several states saw in the 2020 election and runoffs – including a nonprofit funneling money donated by the founder of a popular social media website. 

Arkansas House Bill 1866 was signed into law on April 27 and prohibits county boards of election in Arkansas from accepting any form of election funding that does not come from “A city or incorporated town; The governing authority of the county; The State of Arkansas; or The United States Government."

"The 2020 election witnessed a coordinated and concerted effort funded by Mr. (Mark) Zuckerberg and other high-tech interests to use government to improperly influence the election for Joe Biden," Phil Kline, director of the Amistad Project, said in a release.

The Center for Technology and Civic Life received $350 million from Facebook CEO Zuckerberg ahead of the 2020 election and mainly distributed grants to counties in swing states. The donations were contingent on each city holding elections according to the CTCL’s specifications.

"This network pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into local election systems using the COVID crisis as a pretense," Kline said. "Our report proves that in reality it was nothing more than a naked attempt to purchase an election. 'Zuckerbucks' and local elections officials invited a billionaire into the consolidated ballot counting centers while kicking out the American people."

According to a Capital Research Center report, the CTCL gave to nine of the 10 Arkansas counties that shifted toward Democrats in 2020, with an average shift of 13.7%.

"This report paints a clear picture of cabal billionaires and activists using their wealth to subvert, control and fundamentally alter the electoral system itself," Kline said. "We must act now to prevent such privatized elections in the future. The American Public deserves transparent and fair elections, not lawless elections directed by powerful private interests."

In October 2020, Mark Zuckerberg donated $350 million to the CTCL, which has been described as a “left-leaning organization.” These funds were pledged to support election infrastructure, including such things as ballot drop boxes, drive-thru voting, and more. 

PR Newswire reported that the largest sums granted by CTCL were delivered “overwhelmingly to strongly Democratic areas.”