Corporate America is wading into the voting rights brawl. Here’s why.
In response to state Republican efforts to restrict voting access and threats of boycotts from voting rights activists, corporate America has begun issuing statements on the issue. Voting rights advocates argue that the corporate response to the coronavirus pandemic and racial reckoning following the death of George Floyd helped prepare corporations to weigh-in on voting rights. Activists are pleased with corporate statements criticizing Republican voting restriction bills, and are working to ensure that corporations take action. Republicans have rejected corporate criticism and may take
Corporations gave over $50M to voting restriction backers
A new report from Public Citizen, a government watchdog group, reveals that corporations have donated over $50 million to state lawmakers pushing voting restriction legislation since 2015. While this money may not have been given expressly to help pass voting restriction bills, it has played a key role over the years in securing Republican control of many state legislatures across the country. Many corporations have come out against voting restriction legislation, but have refused to commit to any specific action concerning their political donation
Major U.S. companies take aim at Georgia’s new voting restrictions
After facing pressure and backlash from voting rights groups, a number of major businesses are condemning the recent voting reform bill passed in Georgia. This CNBC report features a series of statements from corporate leaders criticizing the bill, including Delta, Coca-Cola, Porsche, UPS, and Home Depot, each of which are based in Georgia. In response to this criticism, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp argued that these companies are ignoring the actual content of the law, pointing to the provisions which expand access to the ballot
Civil rights groups sue Georgia over new voting law
Multiple civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, are suing Georgia in federal court over a recent voting reform law they claim will make it harder to vote. At a press conference announcing the lawsuit, a representative from the ACLU claimed that the motive for passing the law was “blatant racism.” The law also drew criticism from President Biden, who called it an “atrocity.”Visit ABC News to learn more. Voter
New GOP-led voting restrictions move forward in Texas
The Texas Senate has passed a bill which opponents argue will roll back access to the ballot box, especially for voters of color. The bill would eliminate drive-thru voting, grant more power to partisan poll watchers, and require a doctor’s note for people with disabilities who want to vote by mail. Supporters of the bill deny it has anything to do with voter suppression.Visit CBS News to learn more. Voter Education Week Young adults will be the nation’s largest voting bloc in the upcoming election and