Letter to Corporate Leadership to Speak Out Against Voter Suppression

April 20 2021

Today Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos, Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray and Attorney General T.J. Donovan joined a bipartisan coalition of current and former statewide elected officials calling for corporate leaders to speak out against voter suppression.

Dear Business Leaders,

As a bipartisan coalition of current and former governors, lieutenant governors, state attorneys general, and secretaries of state, we are deeply concerned about the wave of voter restrictions sweeping the country. We applaud the business leaders and corporate executives who have already spoken out against anti-democratic efforts to restrict the freedom to vote. We urge all corporate leaders to engage on this issue.

During the 2020 election cycle, when disinformation and violence threatened irreparable damage to our country, Republican and Democratic officials, corporate leaders, and many others condemned the violence. It was a dangerous moment, but thanks to overwhelming support for voting rights, the tireless work of state and local election officials and volunteers, and the perseverance of American voters, the 2020 election saw record-breaking voter participation, and no evidence of significant fraud.

Now, more than 360 bills aimed at restricting voting access have been introduced across 47 states. Many of them are based on the same lies that led to violence during the 2020 elections, and they add barriers to voting that disproportionately impact voters of color, the elderly, our veterans, and those with disabilities. We are asking the business leaders in our states, and throughout the country, to add their voices to the growing chorus of corporations standing on the right side of history. When the foundation of our democracy— the freedom of citizens in our states to cast their ballots— is under attack, it is powerful and important when Americans speak up, especially those in leadership positions.

Companies, and the people who work for them, are vital parts of our communities. We've seen the power of corporate leadership in the past on issues foundational to our democracy. We’ve seen corporations rightly rally to the side of equal rights and racial justice. We’ve worked with state and local business leaders to confront the economic struggles of a global pandemic. And now, we need more companies to add their public support for protecting voting rights.

It’s time for more businesses in our states to step up and join those to whom we are so grateful for speaking out. Your leadership matters— please speak out.

Click to read full letter, with signatories