Naples, Florida—This week, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed Senate Bill 1534 into law, a critical step in election reform. The bill prohibits third parties and individuals from giving money to state election commissions and local election offices.
In Tennessee, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative provided more than $475,000 in COVID-19 Response Grant money through a left-leaning non-profit, the Center for Tech and Civic Life.
By signing SB 1534, Governor Lee demonstrated his commitment to secure, transparent elections for all Tennessee voters. The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) thanks Governor Lee for taking a stand against undue influence by out-of-state billionaires and helping restore trust in the democratic process.
“Allowing outside groups to fund the administration of elections is like giving cash to a referee in a basketball game; it destroys the appearance of impartiality and undermines public confidence in the outcome,” said Bryan Sunderland, FGA’s State Government Affairs Director. “Prohibiting third-party funding of elections will restore Tennessee voters’ confidence that their elections belong to them and not private special interests.”
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The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is a non–profit, multi–state think tank that specializes in health care, welfare, work, and election reform. To learn more, visit TheFGA.org.
