This bill would prevent certain tax-exempt charitable organizations from giving money to state and local governments to help run elections. Specifically, it targets organizations with 501(c)(3) status—the most common type of nonprofit charity that gets tax breaks. Under this bill, these organizations couldn't donate funds directly to election officials for things like buying voting machines, training poll workers, or improving voting locations. The ban also covers indirect funding—meaning if a charity gives money to a government for general purposes but it's reasonable to expect some of that money will be used for elections, that would be prohibited too. The only exception is that charities could still donate physical space, like a building to use as a polling place on election day.

The practical effect is that nonprofits and foundations would lose an avenue for supporting election administration. In recent years, some charitable organizations have provided grants to help election offices during the pandemic and after, particularly for things like equipment upgrades and staffing. This bill would cut off that funding source. The restriction would take effect for the 2026 tax year and beyond. Supporters argue this prevents outside groups from influencing how elections are run, while critics contend it could strain already under-resourced election offices that have relied on such grants to improve their operations.