Apr 11, 2021 - Politics & Policy

100+ corporate executives consider freezing donations over laws curbing voting access

Ivana Saric

Illustration of a hand dropping a penny towards a vote pin — Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

More than 100 corporate executives and leaders gathered on a Zoom call Saturday to discuss ways to combat controversial voting bills being considered in states across the country that would restrict voting access, per the Washington Post.

Why it matters: American corporations flexed their advocacy muscles earlier this month when more than 100 companies signaled their opposition to Georgia's new voting law, inciting the wrath of GOP leaders, including former President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Driving the news: During the call, executives from "major airlines, retailers and manufacturers — plus at least one NFL owner" — discussed possibly stopping donations to politicians who support bills curbing voter access and postponing investments in states that approve the controversial measures.

As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, a new statement from Corporate American could be coming this week, condemning voter discrimination and calling for greater voter access.

Saturday's call between company executives "shows they are not intimidated by the flack. They are not going to be cowed," Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a Yale management professor and one of the call's organizers, told the Post.

“They felt very strongly that these voting restrictions are based on a flawed premise and are dangerous,” Sonnenfeld said.
Sonnenfeld also noted that some of the companies on the call included representatives from Starbucks, Linkedin, Levi Strauss and Boston Consulting Group.

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100+ corporate executives consider freezing donations over laws curbing voting access

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