Douglas County Awarded $50,000 Election Grant in “Zuckerbucks”

Douglas County has received a $50,000 grant from the Center for Technology and Civic Life (CTCL) to support election security and administration ahead of the general election in November.

The grant, part of CTCL’s Rural and Nonmetro Election Infrastructure Grant Program, was uncovered through an open-records request submitted by Silver State Times. The development follows widespread scrutiny of CTCL’s involvement in U.S. elections, particularly after the nonprofit directed approximately $400 million, commonly referred to as “Zuckerbucks,” into the 2020 election, primarily benefiting election offices in Democratic-leaning districts.

In response, 28 state legislatures have since banned accepting private, nonprofit money for election administration.

Douglas County’s Grants Administrator, Debbie Swickard, applied for the grant on August 19, citing the county’s need for additional election security measures and equipment.

“As a rural county with limited funding, a grant award will help us fill the gaps to purchase needed items for security,” Swickward stated in her application. “Being proactive to mitigate any possible threat, we would like to purchase transport carts for mail ballots and bulletproof glass for our election public counter. We are also in need of tables and shelving systems for our processing facility as well as tables for our vote centers. We are extremely grateful for any funding to help us maintain fair and safe elections for Douglas County.”

CTCL’s executive director, Tiana Epps-Johnson, approved the grant.

“I’m pleased to share that the Center for Tech and Civic Life has reviewed your application… and has approved a grant award totaling $50,000. Epps-Johnson wrote in an email to the county.

The acceptance of the grant is still pending approval by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners but was not on the agenda during a recent board meeting.

Critics of CTCL argue that the organization’s funding practices have political implications. A recent exposé by The Federalist has called attention to the organization’s alleged far-left affiliations and its involvement in election activism. The report highlights CTCL’s origins in left-wing movements and claims that its leadership is aligned with progressive causes, including critical race theory and the “defund the police” movement.

Despite the controversy surrounding CTCL, the grant agreement specifies that the funds be used “exclusively for the public purpose of planning and operationalizing reliable and secure election administration in Douglas County, Nevada, in 2024.”

With applications for CTCL grants available to election offices in 19 states, the debate over the influence of private money in public elections is likely to continue as the 2024 election approaches.