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In 2020, Joe Biden secured 76% of 717 votes, compared to the 23% votes earned by Hillary Clinton in 2016. Grants to voting officials, funded almost entirely by Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, weren’t offered in 2016.
In Wisconsin, Democrat turnout rose 12.8% in areas which received the funding, while increasing 19.8% in areas which did not.
The Republican Party earned 11.3% more votes in Wisconsin districts assisted by the CTCL, compared to 15.9% in jurisdictions without similar funding.
Support for Trump decreased in Town of Chilton 46% in 2020.
There were 75 more votes cast in Town of Chilton in the 2020 election than in 2016.
Town of Chilton was one of 218 Wisconsin areas where voting officials received money from the progressive Centre for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL). A $350 million donation from Facebook founder Zuckerberg and his wife provided funding for the grants.
Grants from the organization, ranging from $5,000 to $19 million, were given to voting officials in exchange for specific conditions being followed. This included strategically targeting voters, creating ballots and developing what are known as “cure letters” to correct ballots at risk of being thrown out for discrepancies in signatures.
The influx of private money on such a large scale was criticized throughout the contentious 2020 election.
The CTCL was sued by Louisiana’s Attorney General in October 2021 “to prevent the injection of unregulated private money...and protect the integrity of elections in the State.” The lawsuit wasn’t allowed to proceed by a State judge.
Criticism of the CTCL also stemmed from favoring “predominantly Democratic counties” and even gave them a headstart to apply for funding, according to emails obtained through Right-to-Know requests.
“Mark Zuckerberg is providing nearly as much money to this year’s election administration as the federal government,” Phil Kline with the Amistad Project said in a late October 2020 press release.
The US government, in the run-up to the 2020 election, was criticized for underfunding the electoral process at a critical time.
Area | Received CTCL Funding? | % Change in Republican Support | % Change in Democratic Support |
---|---|---|---|
Abbotsford | Yes | -22.5 | 26 |
Altoona | Yes | 0.4 | 5 |
Amberg | Yes | 1.4 | 0.2 |
Amery | Yes | 1.4 | 3.6 |
Antigo | Yes | 0.6 | 2.2 |
Appleton | Yes | 0.3 | 5.1 |
Athelstane | Yes | 4 | 2.6 |
Athens | Yes | -37.2 | 39 |
Aztalan | Yes | 4.2 | 0.1 |
Barron | Yes | -12.2 | 16.6 |
Beaver | Yes | 0.1 | 1 |
Beecher | Yes | 1.7 | 1.1 |
Beetown | Yes | 6.9 | -3.8 |
Beloit | Yes | 23.8 | -20.2 |
Bennett | Yes | 0.1 | 2.1 |
Bergen | Yes | 6.6 | 1.9 |
Berlin | Yes | 1.8 | 1.9 |
Bern | Yes | 6.3 | -3.9 |
Bevent | Yes | 6.1 | 4 |
Biron | Yes | 4.6 | 1.4 |
Black Earth | Yes | 6 | 1.5 |
Brazeau | Yes | 3.4 | 1.7 |
Brighton | Yes | 4.8 | 1.6 |
Brodhead | Yes | 0.6 | 4.7 |
Brookfield | Yes | -2.4 | -8.8 |
Brothertown | Yes | -46.7 | 49.3 |
Brule | Yes | 4.5 | 0.9 |
Cambridge | Yes | 1.2 | 2.3 |
Campbellsport | Yes | 5.2 | 1.6 |
Cassel | Yes | 4 | 0.4 |
City of Chetek | Yes | -6.6 | -1.3 |
Town of Chetek | Yes | 1.7 | 3.3 |
City of Chilton | Yes | 4.1 | 0.2 |
Town of Chilton | Yes | -46.8 | 52.9 |
Cleveland | Yes | 6.8 | 2.7 |
Town of Clinton | Yes | 8 | 1.1 |
Village of Clinton | Yes | 5.7 | 2.7 |
Colby | Yes | 1.3 | 3.4 |
Coleman | Yes | 6.6 | 3.3 |
Cottage Grove | Yes | 33.4 | -28.9 |
Crivitz | Yes | 2 | 0.3 |
Cuba City | Yes | 1 | 4.4 |
Day | Yes | 0.7 | 1.1 |
Delafield | Yes | 1.2 | 5.2 |
Dickeyville | Yes | 2.1 | 1.3 |
Dodge | Yes | 0.1 | 2.2 |
Dunbar | Yes | 2.7 | 0.6 |
Eagle | Yes | 0.5 | 2.3 |
Easton | Yes | 1.9 | 0.2 |
Eau Claire | Yes | 22.6 | -17.7 |
Eau Pleine | Yes | 0 | 3 |
Edgar | Yes | 2.9 | 0.4 |
Edgerton | Yes | 1.8 | 2.6 |
Elderon | Yes | 4.7 | 0 |
Elkhart Lake | Yes | 2.9 | 3.7 |
Emmet | Yes | 1.9 | 1.5 |
Endeavor | Yes | 1.7 | 1.2 |
Ettrick | Yes | 2.4 | 0 |
Evergreen | Yes | 2.6 | 4.9 |
Fenwood | Yes | 15.2 | -11.2 |
Fitchburg | Yes | 0.5 | 4 |
Fond du Lac | Yes | 1.7 | 2.8 |
Footville | Yes | 2.1 | 2 |
Forest | Yes | 6.4 | 1.2 |
Fort Atkinson | Yes | 1.7 | 2.8 |
Frankfort | Yes | 2.5 | 1 |
Franzen | Yes | 1.8 | 0.3 |
Freedom | Yes | 5.1 | 0.4 |
Friendship | Yes | 1.2 | 1.6 |
Fulton | Yes | 0.5 | 2.9 |
Genesee | Yes | -33.8 | 39 |
Goodman | Yes | 0.3 | 0.2 |
Green Bay | Yes | 0.6 | 3.5 |
Green Valley | Yes | 6.5 | 0 |
Greenbush | Yes | 5.4 | 1.6 |
Grover | Yes | 1.2 | 0.1 |
Guenther | Yes | 4.9 | 2 |
Halsey | Yes | 8.4 | -4.6 |
Hamburg | Yes | 7.5 | -4.3 |
Hamilton | Yes | 1.5 | 1.9 |
Hammond | Yes | 3.8 | 3.2 |
Harrison | Yes | 14 | -4 |
Hatley | Yes | 3.8 | 2 |
Town of Hazel Green | Yes | 6.7 | 3.6 |
Village of Hazel Green | Yes | 5.9 | 2.2 |
Hewitt | Yes | 9 | -6.6 |
Holton | Yes | 0.5 | 2.6 |
Hortonia | Yes | 3.1 | 0 |
Hudson | Yes | 1.6 | 5.9 |
Hull | Yes | 0.7 | 2.2 |
Iron Ridge | Yes | 2.2 | 1.5 |
Ixonia | Yes | 1.3 | 2.5 |
Janesville | Yes | 17.4 | -13.6 |
Johnson | Yes | 8.7 | -5 |
Kekoskee | Yes | 0 | 0 |
Kenosha | Yes | -13.8 | 17.5 |
Kewaunee | Yes | 0.7 | 3 |
Knowlton | Yes | 4.3 | 2.3 |
Kronenwetter | Yes | 1 | 2.4 |
La Prairie | Yes | -14.1 | 17.6 |
City of Lake Mills | Yes | 2 | 2.4 |
Town of Lake Mills | Yes | 1.4 | 3 |
Lake | Yes | 2 | 0.7 |
Lancaster | Yes | 3.8 | 0.6 |
Lawrence | Yes | 3.1 | 4.9 |
Liberty | Yes | 3.1 | 0.8 |
Lima | Yes | 1.6 | 0.7 |
Lisbon | Yes | 0 | 3 |
Little River | Yes | 4.3 | 3.1 |
Long Lake | Yes | 7.2 | 0 |
Luck | Yes | 5.8 | 2.4 |
Madison | Yes | 1 | 3.2 |
Maine | Yes | 0 | 2.1 |
Maple Grove | Yes | 1.2 | 1 |
Village of Marathon | Yes | 0 | 1.8 |
Marathon | Yes | 1.1 | 1.4 |
Town of Marathon | Yes | 2.9 | 0.5 |
Marinette | Yes | 1.3 | 1.1 |
Marshall | Yes | 3 | 1.1 |
Marshfield | Yes | 0.3 | 3.8 |
McFarland | Yes | 2.2 | 5.4 |
McMillan | Yes | 0.2 | 3 |
Medina | Yes | 3.1 | 1.3 |
Menasha | Yes | 3.9 | 0.3 |
Metomen | Yes | 5.9 | 0.9 |
City of Milton | Yes | 0.7 | 2.6 |
Town of Milton | Yes | -0.1 | -2.2 |
City of Milwaukee | Yes | 0.9 | 0.6 |
Milwaukee | Yes | 0 | 2.2 |
Minong | Yes | 1.6 | 1.1 |
Montfort | Yes | 6.4 | 1.4 |
Morgan | Yes | 3.6 | 0.8 |
Morrison | Yes | 3.5 | 0.2 |
Mosinee | Yes | 3.1 | 0.1 |
Mount Hope | Yes | -1.5 | -1.5 |
Mountain | Yes | 1.5 | 0.8 |
Niagara | Yes | 2.6 | 0.2 |
Norrie | Yes | 2.5 | 0.4 |
Oakfield | Yes | 2.9 | 1.2 |
Oakland | Yes | 0.7 | 3.5 |
Omro | Yes | 2.5 | 0.2 |
Onalaska | Yes | 0.8 | 3.5 |
Ontario | Yes | 1.8 | 0.4 |
Osceola | Yes | 0.1 | 3.9 |
Ottawa | Yes | 0.2 | 3.5 |
Town of Palmyra | Yes | 3.1 | 0.3 |
Village of Palmyra | Yes | 1.3 | 0.9 |
Paris | Yes | 5.4 | 2.7 |
Pembine | Yes | 2.2 | 0.4 |
Perry | Yes | 1.1 | 2.8 |
Peshtigo | Yes | 0.5 | 2.8 |
Pittsfield | Yes | 4.8 | 1.6 |
Pittsville | Yes | 3.5 | 0.4 |
Platteville | Yes | -1.2 | -7.6 |
Plover | Yes | 0.4 | 2.6 |
City of Plymouth | Yes | 1.1 | 2.5 |
Town of Plymouth | Yes | 1.1 | 2.2 |
Porterfield | Yes | 0.1 | 0.9 |
Town of Pound | Yes | 0.6 | 1.8 |
Village of Pound | Yes | 2.1 | 0.4 |
Prairie Lake | Yes | 4.1 | 1.8 |
Readstown | Yes | 5.9 | 5 |
Red Springs | Yes | 5.8 | 9 |
Reid | Yes | 4.3 | 2.6 |
Rhine | Yes | 0.5 | 0.9 |
Rib Falls | Yes | 0.7 | 1.4 |
Rib Mountain | Yes | 0.2 | 3.1 |
City of Rice Lake | Yes | 1.9 | 4.2 |
Town of Rice Lake | Yes | 0.5 | 1.9 |
Rietbrock | Yes | 4 | -2.5 |
Ringle | Yes | 1.7 | 0.2 |
River Falls | Yes | -1.7 | 6.2 |
Rock | Yes | 1.1 | 1.7 |
Town of Rock | Yes | 3.7 | 0.1 |
Rothschild | Yes | -17.8 | 19 |
Rush River | Yes | 8.4 | 3.3 |
Schofield | Yes | 3.2 | 6.4 |
Sheboygan Falls | Yes | 0.2 | 2.5 |
Silver Cliff | Yes | 0.2 | 2.5 |
Solon Springs | Yes | -3.2 | -5.6 |
Town of Spencer | Yes | 2.3 | 0.7 |
Village of Spencer | Yes | 4.4 | 0.7 |
Springfield | Yes | 1.1 | 4.7 |
Stanfold | Yes | 2 | 1.1 |
Stettin | Yes | 1.5 | 1 |
Stratford | Yes | 0.5 | 3.1 |
Sun Prairie | Yes | 3 | 6.5 |
Town of Superior | Yes | 0.4 | 0.2 |
Village of Superior | Yes | 1.3 | 2.6 |
Taycheedah | Yes | 1.8 | 1 |
Texas | Yes | 2.1 | 0.7 |
Troy | Yes | 1.1 | 1.5 |
Turtle Lake | Yes | 27.9 | -25.5 |
Turtle | Yes | -6.1 | 7.9 |
Two Rivers | Yes | 13.8 | -10.7 |
Unity | Yes | -2.4 | 4.8 |
Waldo | Yes | 1.8 | 2.8 |
Waukesha | Yes | 0.5 | 5 |
Waunakee | Yes | 2.4 | 5.5 |
City of Wausau | Yes | 0.6 | 3.2 |
Town of Wausau | Yes | 1.2 | 1.3 |
Wausaukee | Yes | 4.7 | 9.2 |
Wautoma | Yes | 0.6 | 2 |
West Allis | Yes | -3 | 6.5 |
Town of Weston | Yes | 2.4 | 5.2 |
Village of Weston | Yes | 0.1 | 2.3 |
Westport | Yes | 1.2 | 4.2 |
Wien | Yes | 1.5 | 0.9 |
Wilton | Yes | 1.4 | 3.6 |
Wrightstown | Yes | 2.8 | 0.3 |
Adams County | No | 3.1 | 0.5 |
Ashland County | No | 2.2 | 1.6 |
Bayfield County | No | 0.9 | 4.5 |
Buffalo County | No | 3.4 | 0.1 |
Burnett County | No | 1.8 | 1.4 |
Columbia County | No | 1.8 | 2.4 |
Crawford County | No | 3.2 | 1 |
Door County | No | 0.7 | 4 |
Dunn County | No | 4 | 1.2 |
Forest County | No | 3.3 | 0.9 |
Green Lake County | No | 0.7 | 2.6 |
Iron County | No | 1 | 1.6 |
Jackson County | No | 3.7 | 0.4 |
Juneau County | No | 2.7 | 0.3 |
Lincoln County | No | 3.1 | 1.1 |
Menominee County | No | 2.9 | 5.3 |
Oneida County | No | 0.2 | 3.9 |
Ozaukee County | No | 1.4 | 5.7 |
Pepin County | No | 3.3 | 0.1 |
Portage County | No | 2.3 | 1.9 |
Price County | No | 2.9 | 0.2 |
Rusk County | No | 2.1 | 1.2 |
Sauk County | No | 1.1 | 3.2 |
Sawyer County | No | 1.1 | 4 |
Taylor County | No | 1.9 | 0.2 |
Vilas County | No | 0.3 | 3 |
Walworth County | No | 2.1 | 2.8 |
Waupaca County | No | 2.5 | 0.7 |