Georgia’s DeKalb County could keep its $2 million in private grant money to help run elections, under a bill nearing final passage. But the next Georgia local government official who accepts an outside election grant might end up a convicted felon.
That’s the message majority Republicans sent Monday as the Georgia House voted 100-69 along party lines to approve Senate Bill 222. The measure would make it illegal for local government to accept any funding for elections from outside groups except the state or federal governments. The bill goes back to the Senate for more debate because the House made changes.
A 2021 Georgia law made it illegal for elections officials themselves to accept outside money after Republicans grew alarmed that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg donated more than $400 million to election officials nationwide. Republicans view outside money for election administration as unfairly favoring Democratic counties and improperly influencing the conduct of elections.
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