By Jolie McShane, Past President Republican Women of Baltimore County
September 25, 2024 - Baltimore County Maryland
Announced at the Maryland State Board of Elections Public meeting on September 25, 2024 Worchester County Board of Election applied for and received a $50,000 Grant from the Center for Tech and Civil Life (CTCL). The Center for Tech and Civil Life is funded by Facebook along with other left leaning organizations. Zuckerbucks are back, meddling in our elections.
The grant, earmarked to “enhance security” at the Worcester County Board of Elections office, will be used to purchase bulletproof glass to protect the facility from potential attacks. Yet, a quick Google search reveals no record of election officials ever being targeted by gun violence. Nevertheless, both Homeland Security and mainstream media have been stirring fears by highlighting speculative threats.
Here are some examples:
September 13 – Homeland Security issues warning. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/13/election-terror-attacks-homeland-security Key takeaway: “Mayorkas also made specific mention of his department providing state and local police with tools to help better ensure the “protection of polling places and election workers”.”
September 20 – USA Today published a story about supposed threats to election workers, despite there being no concrete examples of such attacks. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/20/election-workers-under-attack-safety/75283506007/
September 24 – Newsweek ran an article citing threats against public servants but conflated these cases with election workers: https://www.newsweek.com/fbi-doj-warning-2024-election-violence-1958382 Key takeaway: "In the past two years, the Department has prosecuted approximately 400 cases involving threats targeting public servants," citing a July case in which an Alabama man sent death threats to election workers ahead of the Maricopa County elections in Phoenix, Arizona.”
Conservative talk show host, Dan Bongino has often pointed out how the media fabricates crises where none exist, therefore this situation raises questions: Is the government preemptively feeding the media a preferred narrative, or do U.S. agencies possess knowledge of a legitimate threat unknown to the general public? Are election officials genuinely in danger?
If bullet proof glass is required for election workers, then why isn’t bulletproof glass required for all state and local agencies and departments? Why is the Department of Homeland Security focusing exclusively on election workers?
The CTCL grant to the Worcester County Board of Elections was not without controversy. Jim Shalleck, Vice Chair of the Maryland State Board of Elections, strongly stated that no election board should accept funds from a private entity. State Board Member Diane Butler echoed concerns about the reemergence of Zuckerbucks, citing its influence in the 2020 election.
For those interested, the Maryland State Board of Elections meeting can be viewed Linked here, with the Zuckerbucks discussion starting at minute 35:00.
As the debate over private funding influencing local boards of elections resurfaces, it is crucial to ask why these specific security measures and funding sources are being promoted now. While concerns over safety are important, transparency and impartiality in elections must remain paramount. Private organizations like CTCL funded by Zuckerbucks do not belong in our elections and should be outlawed.
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