State legislators across the country have introduced more than 500 bills this session that would make it more difficult for Americans to vote. This series of reports look at what businesses in key states have been saying in response. They are meant to serve as a resource for local, state, and Congressional officials and media. These business leaders share a simple, but powerful, point: State officials passing laws to suppress the vote are jeopardizing their remarkable records of attracting new investment and creating jobs at risk:
- Arizona has one of America’s fastest growing populations and economies, and it ranks in America’s top 10 on startup employment and business dynamism.
- Virginia also enjoys one of America’s strongest populations and economies, and its workforce is among the most talented and educated in the country.
- Georgia is home to the lowest cost of doing business and the most favorable regulatory environment in the country.
But efforts by these state‘s legislators to suppress the vote and protect special interests threaten to divide communities, make cooperation harder, and discourage new investment and jobs. Companies looking to invest in new cities — for example, by building a new lab or factory, or opening a new call center — tend to look for a talented workforce, good schools, sound infrastructure, and a strong community. These self-interested bills send a “closed for new business” message to the rest of the country.
For more information, download our state reports below.