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The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature this week passed a major bill It is the latest to tighten voting rules this year, by overhauling the state’s electoral laws. In Texas, as elsewhere, many businesses and industry groups They spoke out against the movement, arguing it was bad for the economy.
in texas convinced many companies move there or expand operations with their business friendly policies. But while taking a stand on voting rights, some companies have invited scrutiny of their words and actions. especially with political donations. Balancing this against the tightening of some of the country’s strictest voting rules will test companies’ social commitments with financial imperatives.
There’s also the risk of political backlash from speaking out in a state with a Republican governor and a Republican senator adopting restrictive voting rules as a platform for potential presidential elections in 2024.
President of the Texas Senate, Republican Lt. Gov. “It’s about getting all Texans to trust the outcome of every election in Texas,” Dan Patrick said in a statement.
A day after the voting bill passed, Texas-based businesses’ initial response to ballot access turned to Washington and pressured Congress to pass federal vote protections.
“We expected a different result” A spokesperson for American Airlines said DealBook newsletter. The Fort Worth-based airline sought a law that “makes voting easier, not harder,” by issuing a statement opposing the law in April. In May the airline joined Fair Elections TexasA nonpartisan coalition of nearly two dozen businesses, including Microsoft, Unilever and Levi Strauss, urged lawmakers to broaden the ballot.
a spokesperson for DellHeadquartered in Round Rock, he said he would encourage employees to vote and would encourage political leaders to “focus on sticking to a healthy and welcoming work environment for all Texans.” Microsoft, Patagonia and Levi Strauss also expressed disappointment with the passing of the Texas bill and urged Congress to pass the voting rights bill.
“Texans love Texas,” but they want Washington’s help, said Nathan Ryan, Austin city commissioner and CEO of consulting firm Blue Sky Partners, part of the Fair Elections Texas group. He said he and others are developing strategy and will approach the Biden administration and congressional leaders to press for the passage of two federal suffrage laws: John Lewis Voting Rights Promotion Act and For the Law of the People. (Both passed the House but stood between a Republican filibuster in the Senate.)
“There is an urgent need for a national minimum standard for voter protection,” said David Clunie of the Black Economic Alliance, the organization behind a letter to hundreds of signatories in April. condemning laws restricting access to ballots.
New “categories of aggression” are being created, such as the introduction of criminal penalties for election administrators, said Sarah Walker, of the nonpartisan group Secure Democracy, and that business and industry groups have turned to help understanding these laws.
“Time is ticking. The US Senate must act,” he said. said Rafael Anchia, a Texas House member and Democrat. He urged “those in the seat of democracy to pass a national suffrage bill,” noting that the Texas bill would take effect in about 90 days.
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