This week's question was, How many states have banned private funding for the administration of elections?
You answered: 25 states.
That's correct!
As of August 2023, 25 states had enacted laws banning or otherwise restricting the use of private donations for election administration purposes. Twenty-one of these states had a Republican trifecta when the law was adopted; the four other states had divided government at the time. No states banned or restricted private election funding prior to 2021.
The private funding of elections refers to the practice of nonprofits, private organizations, or individuals providing funding or other resources to election administrators for the purpose of conducting or administering an election. Debate over using private resources for election costs began after donations from individuals, such as those made by Mark Zuckerburg, to nonprofits, including the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), ahead of the 2020 general election. These organizations subsequently made a series of donations and grants to election administrators.
Click here to learn more about the laws governing the private funding of elections, including historical context.
Thanks for your response!
Footnotes
- ↑ Newly enacted section, not numbered as of August 2023.
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