Ready To Vote PA: Toolkit for Businesses Can Increase Election Participation, Keep Pennsylvanias Safe

PHILADELPHIA (June 25, 2020) — This year was already destined to bring forth significant changes in how elections in Pennsylvania were conducted. With the introduction of no-excuse vote-by-mail and new, modern voting equipment, voters across the commonwealth faced a learning curve.

The coronavirus pandemic has complicated election plans and put a premium on protecting the health of voters and poll workers. While the postponed Pennsylvania primary election was mostly smooth, there are still several reforms that lawmakers should consider that will ensure no Pennsylvania worker has to sacrifice their ability to earn a paycheck or their health to exercise their right to vote.

This is why Business for America (BFA), a nonprofit network of business leaders advocating for policy that strengthens our representative democracy, is partnering the Pennsylvania Department of State to promote the Ready To Vote PA toolkit for businesses . The toolkit is a resource for companies of all sizes to help ensure their employees can vote safely and securely.

The toolkit contains images, text, links, and other resources for Pennsylvania companies to
operationalize Ready to Vote PA plans and share with employees and customers via social media, public website, company intranet, customer newsletter, internal email, and in offices and workspaces.

“Businesses are important messengers,” says BFA Pennsylvania State Director Joe Petrucci. “We are taking trusted, verified election information — including the latest updates — from the PA Department of State and amplifying it for employers who are well-positioned to communicate it with their employees, raising awareness of new voting options and rules and keeping voters safe.”

Pennsylvania ushered in historic, bipartisan legislation last fall known as Act 77. With the coronavirus pandemic forcing the postponement of the spring primary and creating challenges for state and county election officials for both in-person voting and mail-in ballots, there is a clear need for increased awareness around these election changes.

“We are pleased that Business for America is helping to educate Pennsylvanians about mail-in voting and other electoral reforms, as well as encouraging people to register to vote and serve as poll workers,” said Rachel Boss, Community Impact Manager for the Pennsylvania Department of State’s Bureau of Campaign Finance and Civic Engagement. “Poll workers serve on the front lines of our democracy and ensure that the electoral process can run smoothly.”

Across the country and our commonwealth, businesses are stepping up during the pandemic, navigating unprecedented challenges. More than ever, companies are communicating vital information to their employees, including coronavirus-related work updates and resources on staying safe and healthy. Maintaining civic health is more challenging in the face of COVID-19, which is why both the Pennsylvania Republican Party and Pennsylvania Democratic Party are promoting vote by mail options and voting safely prominently on their websites. With some 50 companies, groups and leaders mobilized across the state, the Pennsylvania business community is well-positioned to play a role in improving our civic health and strengthening our representative democracy, rising above hyper-partisan posturing and cutting through the polarizing national discourse to make sure Pennsylvanians are ready to vote in 2020.

A recent Business for America survey found that nearly all U.S. workers surveyed (95%) agree their employers should make sure they have time to vote on Election Day. A 2018 study found that 69% of 1,000 U.S. employees surveyed who were given paid or planned time off to vote said they want to work for their current employer a year from now, compared to 48% who weren’t able to vote during office hours.

A March 2020 Harvard Business Review article reported a global survey showing 71% of workers believe “it is critically important for my CEO to respond to these challenging times,” demonstrating a strong mandate for businesses to take action for our elections during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our democracy faces an array of unprecedented challenges. Now is the time for business leaders to step up and find new ways to support and encourage civic engagement by their workers,” says Robert Cheetham, President/CEO of Philadelphia geospatial technology firm Azavea.

BFA will convene a Ready to Vote PA webinar series to review the commonwealth’s new election rules and the latest changes, uncover the costs and needs of local county election offices, underscore the clear need for business to play a role, and identify pathways for companies of every stripe to play a role in improving their communities’ civic health.

“Business can and should play a role in ensuring employees cast their ballot,” says Jun Huangpu,Founder/CEO of data analytics firm Cobbs Creek Healthcare in Newtown Square, Delaware County. “This is a simple thing the business community can do to strengthen democracy and build stronger bonds with employees, customers, and their community.”

About Business for America
Business for America is a nonpartisan network of business leaders advancing solutions to boost civic engagement, reduce political polarization, and modernize government. A well-functioning representative democracy will help foster a more competitive, innovative business climate in America. Businesses interested in getting involved can learn more at bfa.us.