Companies, Celebrities Sign Statement Opposing Restrictive Voting Legislation

Signatories include Target, Google, Amazon, Netflix, Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg and George Clooney.

Hundreds of companies and executives, along with celebrities and other prominent names, have signed a new statement opposing "any discriminatory legislation" that restricts ballot access.

The statement appeared as a full, two-page advertisement in Wednesday's edition of The New York Times and The Washington Post.

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"We stand for democracy," the statement reads. "We all should feel a responsibility to defend the right to vote and to oppose any discriminatory legislation or measures that restrict or prevent any eligible voter from having an equal and fair opportunity to cast a ballot."

Signatories include Target, Bank of America, Google, Amazon, Apple, Cisco, Starbucks, Netflix, General Motors, American Express, Wells Fargo, Berkshire Partners, Warren Buffett, Demi Lovato, Michael Bloomberg, Mark Ruffalo, George Clooney and Josh Kushner, brother to Jared Kushner and founder of venture capital firm Thrive Capital.

The statement comes as Republican lawmakers across the country work to advance hundreds of restrictions that would disproportionately affect voters of color. Lawmakers say the restrictions would restore trust in elections as they continue to question the results of the 2020 election, despite no proof and officials deeming the election secure and accurate.

The show of solidarity was organized by Kenneth Chenault, a former chief executive at American Express, and Kenneth Frazier, the chief executive of Merck.

Chenault said the statement should make it "clear that there is overwhelming support in corporate America for the principle of voting rights," the Times reported.

The statement does not mention any specific legislation, such as that under consideration in Texas, Arizona and Michigan, and Chenault said there was no expectation for companies to oppose individual bills.

Photos You Should See - April 2021
A worker prepares traditional Turkish sweets in a restaurant, in Istanbul, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. As Muslims around the world began marking Ramadan Tuesday, in mostly-Muslim Turkey, the month of fasting kicked off with some restrictions amid record levels of COVID-19 infections. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced renewed restrictions for the holy month, such as the closure of cafes and restaurants for all but take away service. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
 

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"We are not being prescriptive," he said. "There is no one answer."

Frazier added that the issues aren't political, rather they "are the issues that we were taught in civics."

While some companies, including Coca-Cola and Delta, publicly criticized legislation, they declined to add their names to the statement.

Tags: voters, elections, Amazon.com, Google

Signatories include Target, Google, Amazon, Netflix, Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg and George Clooney.

Hundreds of companies and executives, along with celebrities and other prominent names, have signed a new statement opposing "any discriminatory legislation" that restricts ballot access.

The statement appeared as a full, two-page advertisement in Wednesday's edition of The New York Times and The Washington Post.

How Voting Laws Suppress the ‘New South’
GOP-backed proposals to restrict voting are steadily gaining traction across the Sun Belt, aiming to slow the effects of ongoing demographic shifts that favor Democrats.
Lisa Hagen and Susan MilliganApril 9, 2021

"We stand for democracy," the statement reads. "We all should feel a responsibility to defend the right to vote and to oppose any discriminatory legislation or measures that restrict or prevent any eligible voter from having an equal and fair opportunity to cast a ballot."

Signatories include Target, Bank of America, Google, Amazon, Apple, Cisco, Starbucks, Netflix, General Motors, American Express, Wells Fargo, Berkshire Partners, Warren Buffett, Demi Lovato, Michael Bloomberg, Mark Ruffalo, George Clooney and Josh Kushner, brother to Jared Kushner and founder of venture capital firm Thrive Capital.

The statement comes as Republican lawmakers across the country work to advance hundreds of restrictions that would disproportionately affect voters of color. Lawmakers say the restrictions would restore trust in elections as they continue to question the results of the 2020 election, despite no proof and officials deeming the election secure and accurate.

The show of solidarity was organized by Kenneth Chenault, a former chief executive at American Express, and Kenneth Frazier, the chief executive of Merck.

Chenault said the statement should make it "clear that there is overwhelming support in corporate America for the principle of voting rights," the Times reported.

The statement does not mention any specific legislation, such as that under consideration in Texas, Arizona and Michigan, and Chenault said there was no expectation for companies to oppose individual bills.

Photos You Should See - April 2021
A worker prepares traditional Turkish sweets in a restaurant, in Istanbul, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. As Muslims around the world began marking Ramadan Tuesday, in mostly-Muslim Turkey, the month of fasting kicked off with some restrictions amid record levels of COVID-19 infections. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced renewed restrictions for the holy month, such as the closure of cafes and restaurants for all but take away service. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

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"We are not being prescriptive," he said. "There is no one answer."

Frazier added that the issues aren't political, rather they "are the issues that we were taught in civics."

While some companies, including Coca-Cola and Delta, publicly criticized legislation, they declined to add their names to the statement.

Tags: voters, elections, Amazon.com, Google