Established Fact
The Michigan Bureau of Elections used its official government email infrastructure — the Bureau’s statewide News Update system, which automatically delivered communications to every municipal clerk and deputy clerk in the state — to relay CTCL grant application information directly to local election officials in September 2020. The Bureau’s News Update of September 17, 2020, sent through the Michigan Secretary of State’s official govdelivery.com platform, included a section headed ‘Additional Center for Tech and Civic Life Grant Funding Available – Apply by October 1!’ that provided the CTCL application URL and a list of covered expense categories, directing clerks to apply directly to the private Zuckerberg-funded nonprofit. Canton Township’s clerk received the communication and subsequently applied; the township was awarded a $42,931 CTCL grant.
Citations
Michigan Secretary of State, Bureau of Elections, “9/17/2020 News Update — Accessible Electronic AV Ballots, MOVE Ballots, CTCL Funding and more,” sent September 17, 2020, 6:49 PM EDT, via Michigan SOS govdelivery.com email system. Section heading: “Additional Center for Tech and Civic Life Grant Funding Available – Apply by October 1!” Full text: “The Bureau of Elections received additional information from the Center for Tech and Civic Life about grant funding that remains available for election officials in Michigan. Jurisdictions can learn more about applying on the CTCL website: https://www.techandciviclife.org/grants/ Election offices can use the funds to cover certain 2020 expenses incurred between June 15, 2020 and December 31, 2020.” Footer: “The Bureau of Elections News Update will always be sent to the Clerk and Deputy Clerk email accounts.” Available at: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MISOS/bulletins/2a12e10.
“CTCL Payments to Michigan Jurisdictions,” compiled from Center for Tech and Civic Life 2020 grant disclosure data (Form 990, filed December 2021), listing “Charter Township of Canton — $42,931.” Published on Scribd, p. 20. Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/565089991/List-of-Center-for-Tech-and-Civic-Life-2020-Grant-Recipients.
City of Novi, City Council Meeting Agenda, Consent Item E, October 12, 2020: “The State of Michigan notified the Clerks’ office of available grant funding through the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), an organization that is providing funding to U.S. local election offices to ensure they have critical resources to safely serve voters in 2020. In September, the Clerks office applied for grant funding by outlining the current 2020 elections budget and additional expenses incurred. On September 26, the City received notice that it had been awarded a grant in the amount of $26,194.” Available at: https://cityofnovi.org/media/rqtaprey/10122020_consente.pdf.