Thursday, the Alabama Legislature passed a bill authored by State Rep. Wes Allen (R-Troy) to ensure the integrity of Alabama’s elections administration process.
Allen’s legislation, House Bill 41, bars state and local election officials from soliciting or accepting money or services from private and non-governmental entities for the purpose of election-related expenses. Voter education, outreach or voter registration are activities for which the bill prohibits the use of private funds.
The bill effectively bans so-called “Zuckerbucks,” coined after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, from the state of Alabama. The term was popularized after the Center for Tech and Civic Life distributed grants, which were funded by Zuckerberg, to election administrators nationwide in 2020.
Seven Alabama counties were recipients of the grants: Montgomery, Macon, Wilcox, Jefferson, Hale, Dallas and Bullock Counties.
Allen received criticism over his bill from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which alleged that the legislation “perpetuate issues of white supremacy and discrimination.”
Despite left-wing backlash, the bill overwhelmingly passed the Republican-controlled legislature and has been sent to the desk of Gov. Kay Ivey for signature.
“Today is a great day for fair elections in the State of Alabama,” declared Allen in a statement. “My bill to prohibit private individuals, companies or organizations from purchasing voting equipment or supplies and prohibiting those same entities from compensating an elections official or their staff members passed the Alabama House and Senate today.”
Allen’s bill passes on his final day in the legislature as the lawmaker has opted to forgo reelection. He will instead seek the open Alabama Secretary of State seat, which will be vacated by the term-limited John Merrill.
Allen concluded, “On this, my last day in the legislature, I am proud that I will leave this body knowing that our elections administration process is more secure than it was when I came here.”
Republican voters will have an opportunity to cast their ballots for their candidate of preference during the primary election on May 24, 2022.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
