(Update) ‘Consequences Culture’: Corporate Accountability For Failing To Defend Voting Rights

E.J. Montini of The Arizona Republic actually went there and called on the NFL to cancel Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in 2023, in response to the voter suppression bill passed by our MAGA/QAnon cult legislature and signed by our “Wimpy Kid” Governor, Doug Ducey. (And let us not forget the ongoing disgrace of the sham “fraudit” of Maricopa County ballots trying to “prove” QAnon conspiracy theories). NFL should cancel Arizona’s Super Bowl over voter purge. (subscriber content).

The Arizona Senate this week passed and Governor Ducey signed SB1485, a bill that could potentially purge anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 people from the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) if they have not voted in all elections (primary and general) for two consecutive election cycles, rendering it the Early Voting List (EVL) or “Evil” in pronunciation of the new acronym.

A reminder that the PEVL was originally a Republican bill signed by a Republican governor. Republicans thought it advantaged them in elections, until Democrats started catching up in voter registration and winning elections. Now Republicans want to punish Arizona voters, including their own Republican and MAGA/QAnon cult voters, who may vote only sporadically. You should be asking these legislators, “What part of ‘Permanent’ did you not understand?‘

Note: Ken Behringer, general counsel for the Arizona Legislative Council, a statutory committee of the legislature, provided QAnon Queen Sen. Kelly Townsend with an opinion that SB 1485 is prospective only, not retroactive, and would not purge any voters until 2026. The obvious answer is to elect more Democrats to to the Arizona legislature in 2022 and 2024, so they can reverse this plainly retaliatory law.

Michael Bidwell doesn't *only* give to the GOP, but he gives big $$ to GOPers who are working to suppress the vote. Words mean nothing without actions. If he continues to donate to these electeds, he is supporting their voter suppression.
Info: https://t.co/AO7kktNucH pic.twitter.com/505Vy3QMyf

— Take A Stand (@RepresentMeAZ) April 3, 2021

Arizona is scheduled to host not just the 2023 Super Bowl, but also the NCAA Men’s Final Four at the University of Phoenix Stadium in 2024, and the NCAA Women’s Final Four at Talking Stick Resort Arena in 2026. The NCAA is as profitable as major league sports. why stop with the NFL? Why not the NCAA?

And what about those “brave” corporations at Greater Phoenix Leadership who sent a letter to the legislature urging them not to enact voter suppression legislation? Including, specifically, SB 1485.

Are these Arizona corporations going to step up and take real action now, i.e., cut off any campaign contributions to Republican politicians and Republican-affiliated PACs? Where is your “corporate accountability” now, Greater Phoenix Leadership? Cut off your campaign contributions to defund these Jim Crow 2.0 voter suppressors. Watchful eyes will be watching your campaign contributions.

Here is the text of the Greater Phoenix Leadership Letter:

Re: Business Leadership Opposition to Senate Bills 1485, 1593 and 1713

Members of the Arizona Legislature –

The following business leaders of Greater Phoenix Leadership have signed onto the Arizona Capitol Time’s opinion editorial titled Disenfranchising Voters is not “Election Reform” in opposition to the legislative bills listed below.

• • • Senate Bill 1485: S/E NOW: early voting list; eligibility

• • • Senate Bill 1593: early voting; time limits; envelope

• • • Senate Bill 1713: early ballots; identification; mailing

We encourage you to please vote no on these bills when they come up for a vote and appreciate your consideration.

—

Disenfranchising Voters is not “Election Reform”

Arizonans have an election system that is safe, secure, and convenient. Through the hard work of election officials and leaders from both parties, our voting system serves as a national model.  Despite this success, we are now witnessing legislative efforts aimed at not only undoing this carefully crafted system, but actually attempting to suppress the votes of Arizonans. These efforts are misguided and must be defeated.

And as private-sector business leaders who lead the Public Policy Committee of an organization of CEOs at the helm of hundreds of thousands of employees in Arizona, it is incumbent upon us to speak out against proposals that could interfere with any Arizonan’s right to vote.

In this legislative session, dozens of proposed bills would adversely affect the way that Arizonans vote and how those votes are counted. These proposed measures range from requiring a purge of voters from the Permanent Early Voting List, to introducing stringent new identification requirements for those voting by mail, to shortening the early vote period available for all voters. Some measures go even further and would do away with the Permanent Early Voting List in its entirety or would require all early ballots to be returned by a voter in person. Most egregiously, one measure would even permit legislators to overturn the will of the voters during a presidential election.

These proposals are a concerted effort from those in Arizona -and across the nation- who wish to sow additional doubts about our elections in the minds of voters, and feed into the paranoia that has plagued our political discourse over the past several months. Disturbingly, each of these proposals have one thing in common: making it more difficult for Arizonans to vote.

Despite claims made by the proponents of these misguided measures, Arizonans already have confidence in the integrity of our elections and, by and large, they find it easy to vote. This confidence in our election process has been validated by the ever-increasing numbers of registered voters in Arizona utilizing vote-by-mail (and other innovations). The creation and implementation of our election improvements have historically received significant bi-partisan support and represent our shared commitment to protecting the right to vote for all Arizonans.

We live in a very politically divided time, which underscores why we must protect the institutions that have been successful and have instilled voter confidence.  Win or lose an election in Arizona, we know that the system is accurate, fair and dependable.   We can, and should, regularly strive to make improvements to the way that we conduct this most vital component of democracy. However, these efforts in play at the legislature today will hinder, not enhance, the precious right to vote.

These measures seek to disenfranchise voters. They are “solutions” in search of a problem. They are attempts at voter suppression cloaked as reform – plain and simple.

The onslaught of voter suppression measures that have been introduced or entertained this session has been alarming. Attempts to disenfranchise Arizona voters is not “election reform” and cannot be tolerated. Further, pandering to those who willfully choose to perpetuate misleading or inaccurate information cannot continue. True leaders will play an important role in sharing the truth:  our election system in Arizona works.

See the GPL Link for the signatories.

As I’ve said before, “corporate accountability” means holding these corporations accountable. “Threats of boycotts, sit-ins at legislative offices, marches and protests, and  emails, letters and phone calls to pressure legislators and their corporate campaign donors are in order.” Time For A Corporate Accountability Campaign To Defeat Jim Crow Voter Suppression Bills In Arizona. See,The 50 biggest companies in Arizona. Pressure these corporations to do right by the citizens of Arizona. Silence is consent, and they must take affirmative public opposition to these Jim Crow voter suppression bills.

Now that the first of a series of GQP Jim Crow 2.0 voter suppression laws has passed the Arizona legislature and been signed by our “Wimpy Kid” Governor who will not stand up for voting rights, the time has now arrived for a boycott of Arizona and Arizona businesses.

Arizonans have been through this drill before. This is not our first rodeo. You all know how to do this.

Just to be clear, anti-democratic Jim Crow 2.0 Republicans in the Arizona legislature brought this upon the state. They have only themselves to blame. Do not let them blame any boycotters for standing up for voting rights. This is the American way. What these anti-democratic Jim Crow 2.0 Republicans in the Arizona legislature are doing is un-American.