According to a new report from the Election Integrity Network (EIN), while our state and others across the U.S. try to stretch limited dollars to keep elections secure, Washington is sending more money overseas to help other countries run theirs.
In case you missed the report! https://t.co/4dns3uOI1Z
— Cleta Mitchell (@CletaMitchell) August 19, 2025
Billions Abroad, Pennies at Home
In 2022, the federal government spent $237 million helping foreign nations with their elections.
Compare that to just $110 million spent on domestic election security. That’s less than half.
It’s not new. For decades, the U.S. has invested in building democracies overseas.
But after years of election chaos and trust issues here at home, many Americans are asking: Shouldn’t we fix our own house first?
A 2024 Pew survey found that 62% of Americans want more of that foreign aid redirected back home for election security. A separate Gallup poll showed 58% want all types of foreign aid cut in favor of domestic needs.
What This Means for Nevada
Here in the Silver State, we received just $1.2 million in federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds in 2022.
That’s a drop in the bucket when you consider the cost of upgrading voting machines, securing networks, and training poll workers.
Nevada’s rural counties feel it even more. Local election offices are being asked to do more with less. That often leads to long lines, outdated equipment, and the kind of small errors that fuel mistrust.
And now, with the 2026 midterms around the corner, Nevada’s total election budget is projected at $12 million – a tiny number compared to what we spend securing elections in places like Ukraine or Nigeria.
The “Zuckbucks” Debate Isn’t Over
On top of federal aid, some election offices have turned to private money.
During the 2020 election, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan gave $419 million to help counties run their elections. The idea was to make sure polling places stayed open and safe during COVID.
But critics say the money mostly went to areas that leaned Democrat. One 2023 study by the Foundation for Government Accountability found 92% of those grants went to counties Joe Biden won.
In Nevada, a 2024 report from the Nevada Policy Research Institute estimated Clark County received $2.3 million in these private grants. Meanwhile, rural Republican areas got little or nothing.
That sparked concern. A new bill in the 2025 Nevada Legislature, AB287, proposed creating a state-run election fund.
Supporters say it’s meant to level the playing field. Opponents warn it’s just another way for political insiders to funnel money where they want it.
Americans Want Accountability
The Election Integrity Network’s report ties all this together – foreign aid, private funding, and budget gaps – and says it’s time to put U.S. elections first.
Cleta Mitchell, Chair of the EIN, put it bluntly in an article by The Federalist from July 15, 2025, titled “Cleta Mitchell Slams U.S. Election Spending Priorities”:
“It’s outrageous that we spend hundreds of millions to secure elections abroad while our own polling places are underfunded and vulnerable to interference. Americans deserve better protection at home.”
Nevada’s Role Going Forward
With our growing population and swing-state status, Nevada is becoming more and more important in national elections.
That means we need strong, secure, and fair elections that every voter – left, right, or center – can trust.
Nevadans deserve modern voting equipment, trained workers, and real-time transparency. That takes money.
The question is, should it come from D.C., Silicon Valley, or right here at home?
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
