Reasonable Inference
Michigan’s Center for Election Law and Administration (MCELA), founded by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, received a multi-million-dollar CEIR grant for “voter education” and outreach, including direct communications to voters and digital targeting. The national report documents that this messaging was geared toward boosting participation among “Biden profile” demographics and that Michigan’s own public funds (HAVA surplus and CARES Act) were sufficient for basic administration, indicating the CEIR grant primarily functioned as a partisan turnout amplifier rather than a fiscal necessity.
Citations
Center for Election Innovation and Research, “2020 Voter Education Grant Program Report” (confirming Michigan grant of $11,939,365): https://electioninnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/CEIR-2020-Voter-Education-Grant-Program-Report.pdf | CEIR
InfluenceWatch, “Michigan Center for Election Law and Administration” (documenting founding by Jocelyn Benson and $12,040,000 CEIR grant; MCELA Form 990 mission statement: “nonpartisan voter education efforts”): https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/the-michigan-center-for-election-law-and-administration/ | InfluenceWatch
InfluenceWatch, “Michigan Center for Election Law and Administration” (documenting dormancy, sub-$50,000 revenue history, and sole 2020 tax filing): https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/the-michigan-center-for-election-law-and-administration/ | InfluenceWatch
CEIR 2020 Voter Education Grant Program Report, Michigan section: “Active registered voters received information about ways to vote, elections deadlines and how to request a mail ballot, and those who had not yet returned their mail ballot received instructions on how to do so”: https://electioninnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/CEIR-2020-Voter-Education-Grant-Program-Report.pdf
Breitbart / The Michigan Star (citing MCELA Form 990), “Zuckerberg-Funded Group Gave $11.8M to Democrat Consulting Firms for ‘Nonpartisan Voter Education’ in Michigan” (Aug. 6, 2021) (documenting Waterfront Strategies $9,799,407, Alper Strategies $2,088,000, GMMB affiliation, and Jill Alper’s DNC background): https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/08/06/zuckerberg-funded-group-gave-11-8m-to-democrat-consulting-firms-for-nonpartisan-voter-education-in-michigan/
Michigan House Fiscal Agency, “HAVA Election Grants” Fiscal Brief (Oct. 29, 2020) (documenting $33.9M in total federal HAVA election grants to Michigan and $26,648,252 remaining unspent balance as of Oct. 6, 2020): https://www.house.mi.gov/hfa/PDF/Alpha/Fiscal_Brief_HAVA_Election_Grants_Oct29.pdf
Zuckerberg-Funded Group Gave $11.8M to Democrat Firms for ˜Nonpartisan Voter Education”: https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/08/06/zuckerberg-funded-group-gave-11-8m-to-democrat-consulting-firms-for-nonpartisan-voter-education-in-michigan/ | Breitbart