Foreign nationals are barred from donating to political campaigns and Super PACs. However, a dangerous loophole allows foreign nationals to directly or indirectly fund ballot issue campaigns. That means that “direct democracy” and state constitutional amendments are a Trojan Horse for foreign interference in American elections.

 

This loophole has been exploited by Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, a “Democratic-aligned megadonor,” who has given hundreds of millions of dollars to the D.C.-based group Sixteen Thirty Fund. The Sixteen Thirty Fund has bankrolled a slew of progressive ballot issues in states all across the country. Even worse, nothing currently prevents bad actors or America’s adversaries — like China, Russia, or Iran – from following Wyss’ lead.

 

That’s why it’s imperative for states to pass legislation that bans foreign funding for ballot issue campaigns and close this alarming foreign influence loophole.