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Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan donate $100 million more to election administrators
Source: Washington Post
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, announced Tuesday an additional $100 million in donations to local governments to pay for polling place rentals, poll workers, personal protective equipment and other election administration costs over the coming weeks.
The donation, which follows a previous gift of $300 million for state and local governments to help fund U.S. elections, comes in the face of a lawsuits from a conservative legal group seeking to block the use of private funds for the state and local administration of elections, an expense that has historically been paid for by governments.
But Zuckerberg has been unmoved by legal threats, arguing in a Facebook post expected to go live Tuesday that his decision to fund election administration does not have a partisan political motive.
“Since our initial donation, there have been multiple lawsuits filed in an attempt to block these funds from being used, based on claims that the organizations receiving donations have a partisan agenda. That’s false,” Zuckerberg writes in the post. “These funds will serve communities throughout the country — urban, rural and suburban — and are being allocated by nonpartisan organizations.”
The donation, which follows a previous gift of $300 million for state and local governments to help fund U.S. elections, comes in the face of a lawsuits from a conservative legal group seeking to block the use of private funds for the state and local administration of elections, an expense that has historically been paid for by governments.
But Zuckerberg has been unmoved by legal threats, arguing in a Facebook post expected to go live Tuesday that his decision to fund election administration does not have a partisan political motive.
“Since our initial donation, there have been multiple lawsuits filed in an attempt to block these funds from being used, based on claims that the organizations receiving donations have a partisan agenda. That’s false,” Zuckerberg writes in the post. “These funds will serve communities throughout the country — urban, rural and suburban — and are being allocated by nonpartisan organizations.”
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/zuckerberg-chan-elections-facebook/2020/10/12/0e07de94-0cba-11eb-8074-0e943a91bf08_story.html
10 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
until now... 
New Satellite Election Offices Open Throughout Philadelphia
For immediate release: September 29, 2020 | Published by: Office of the Mayor, Office of the City Commissioners | Contact: Mayor's Office of Communications press@phila.gov For the City Commissioners: Nick Custodio nick.custodio@phila.gov
Offices will facilitate registration and use of mail-in ballots
PHILADELPHIA – City Commissioners today opened seven satellite election offices to provide Philadelphia voters with easier access to register to vote and to vote by mail. Ten more satellite offices will open in the coming weeks.
The offices will be open 7 days a week and will remain open through Election Day, November 3, 2020. Hours of operation for the satellite offices are 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The deadline to register to vote is October 19 and the deadline to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is October 27.
In addition to being able to register, voters may also request a mail-in ballot in-person, receive it, fill it out, and return it to cast their vote, all at the same location. Following comments by officials at today’s press conference, North Philadelphia resident Priscilla Bennett cast the first mail-in vote in Philadelphia for the 2020 General Election.
Voters can utilize any of these seven satellite offices throughout the city:
In addition, these 10 additional offices will open in the coming weeks:
Mayor Jim Kenney:
“In the midst of a pandemic, these satellite offices will help ensure that Philadelphians can access the resources they need to vote. This is particularly crucial for those who lack digital access, and who need to avoid longer trips because of health risks. I thank the Commissioners for their work in meeting this need with these offices.”
City Commissioner Lisa Deeley:
“This fall Philadelphians are excited – excited to cast their vote. We at the Commissioners’ Office are pleased to be able to offer Philadelphia voters several different, safe options on how they can exercise their right to be heard. You can vote at the polls on Election Day, November 3rd, you can vote through the mail, and starting today, you can vote in-person at one of our offices around the city, whichever is best for your personal voting plan.”
City Commissioner Omar Sabir:
“It is crucial that Black and Brown voters understand that they have purpose, and their opinion is significant for Government to work at an optimal level. I’m pleased that the satellite offices will make voting more accessible to all Philadelphians.”
Council President Darrell L. Clarke:
“It is essential that every registered voter in Philadelphia knows where they can cast or deliver their mail-in ballot prior to Election Day. These satellite voting centers are open and accessible to every Philadelphian who wants to use them. Our goal is to maximize turnout across every neighborhood in Philadelphia. Be sure to make a plan to vote – it’s critically important that your voice and vote are counted.”
Funding for the satellite offices will come from a $10 million grant from the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL). The City Commissioners are also using this grant to provide additional pay for poll workers and extra cleaning for polling places. With the grant, the department has also purchased over $5 million worth of equipment to send and process mail-in ballots faster and count the votes both quickly and accurately.
Starting on October 6, 2020, voters will also be able to request a replacement for an already requested absentee or mail-in ballot at one of these offices.
More resources at philadelphiavotes.com.
###
https://www.phila.gov/2020-09-29-new-satellite-election-offices-open-throughout-philadelphia/
For immediate release: September 29, 2020 | Published by: Office of the Mayor, Office of the City Commissioners | Contact: Mayor's Office of Communications press@phila.gov For the City Commissioners: Nick Custodio nick.custodio@phila.gov
Offices will facilitate registration and use of mail-in ballots
PHILADELPHIA – City Commissioners today opened seven satellite election offices to provide Philadelphia voters with easier access to register to vote and to vote by mail. Ten more satellite offices will open in the coming weeks.
The offices will be open 7 days a week and will remain open through Election Day, November 3, 2020. Hours of operation for the satellite offices are 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The deadline to register to vote is October 19 and the deadline to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is October 27.
In addition to being able to register, voters may also request a mail-in ballot in-person, receive it, fill it out, and return it to cast their vote, all at the same location. Following comments by officials at today’s press conference, North Philadelphia resident Priscilla Bennett cast the first mail-in vote in Philadelphia for the 2020 General Election.
Voters can utilize any of these seven satellite offices throughout the city:
Region Location Address Zip Code
1. Center City
City Hall, Room 140
1400 JFK Blvd. 19107
2. Far Northeast George Washington High School 10175 Bustleton Ave. 19116
3. North The Liacouras Center 1776 N Broad St. 19121
4. Northwest Roxborough High School 6498 Ridge Ave. 19128
5. Southwest Tilden Middle School 6601 Elmwood Ave. 19142
6. Upper North Julia De Burgos Elementary 401 W Lehigh Ave. 19133
7. West Overbrook Elementary School 2032 N 62nd St. 19151
In addition, these 10 additional offices will open in the coming weeks:
Region Location Address Zip Code
8. Center City
Riverview Place, 1st Floor
520 N Columbus Blvd. 19123
9. Far Northeast Joseph H Brown School 3600 Stanwood St. 19136
10. Lower Northeast Harding Middle School 2000 Wakeling St. 19124
11. Lower Northeast J Hampton Moore School 6900 Summerdale Ave. 19111
12. Northwest A.B. Day School 6324 Crittenden St. 19138
13. River Mastbaum High School 3116 Frankford Ave. 19134
14. South Creative and Performing Arts 901 S Broad St. 19147
15. Upper North Feltonville Intermediate School 238 E Wyoming Ave. 19120
16. Upper North Julia Ward Howe School 5800 N 13th St. 19141
17. West Alain Locke School 4550 Haverford Ave. 19139
Mayor Jim Kenney:
“In the midst of a pandemic, these satellite offices will help ensure that Philadelphians can access the resources they need to vote. This is particularly crucial for those who lack digital access, and who need to avoid longer trips because of health risks. I thank the Commissioners for their work in meeting this need with these offices.”
City Commissioner Lisa Deeley:
“This fall Philadelphians are excited – excited to cast their vote. We at the Commissioners’ Office are pleased to be able to offer Philadelphia voters several different, safe options on how they can exercise their right to be heard. You can vote at the polls on Election Day, November 3rd, you can vote through the mail, and starting today, you can vote in-person at one of our offices around the city, whichever is best for your personal voting plan.”
City Commissioner Omar Sabir:
“It is crucial that Black and Brown voters understand that they have purpose, and their opinion is significant for Government to work at an optimal level. I’m pleased that the satellite offices will make voting more accessible to all Philadelphians.”
Council President Darrell L. Clarke:
“It is essential that every registered voter in Philadelphia knows where they can cast or deliver their mail-in ballot prior to Election Day. These satellite voting centers are open and accessible to every Philadelphian who wants to use them. Our goal is to maximize turnout across every neighborhood in Philadelphia. Be sure to make a plan to vote – it’s critically important that your voice and vote are counted.”
Funding for the satellite offices will come from a $10 million grant from the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL). The City Commissioners are also using this grant to provide additional pay for poll workers and extra cleaning for polling places. With the grant, the department has also purchased over $5 million worth of equipment to send and process mail-in ballots faster and count the votes both quickly and accurately.
Starting on October 6, 2020, voters will also be able to request a replacement for an already requested absentee or mail-in ballot at one of these offices.
More resources at philadelphiavotes.com.
###
https://www.phila.gov/2020-09-29-new-satellite-election-offices-open-throughout-philadelphia/
I'll be headed to one of these sites most likely tomorrow, as the closest one to me is scheduled to open today.
instead of doling out dribs and drabs to what should be government-funded actions.
relying on the largesse of tax-evading criminals to uphold society won't end well.
