Ford, GM among Michigan companies opposing Republican-backed voting limits

[April 14, 2021]  By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) - The top executives of more than three dozen Michigan-based companies, including General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co, on Tuesday issued a joint statement opposing Republican-backed legislation to restrict voting.

General Motors Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra wears safety glasses on the assembly floor at the GM Orion Assembly Plant in Lake Orion, Michigan, U.S. March 22, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo

The move appeared to be pre-emptive, after Georgia companies such as Coca-Cola Co and Delta Air Lines Inc endured public backlash for failing to take a stronger stance before that state enacted a raft of voting limits last month.

"Government must avoid actions that reduce participation in elections - particularly among historically disenfranchised communities," the statement, which bore the names of 37 top executives, read in part.

Republican lawmakers in numerous states have proposed a slew of voting limits, after former President Donald Trump, a Republican, falsely claimed he lost November's election to President Joe Biden due to widespread fraud.

In Michigan, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has vowed to veto bills that Republicans have proposed, including new restrictions on absentee and mail ballots.

The state Republican chairman, however, has previously suggested the party could attempt to circumvent Whitmer via a petition drive. The state constitution allows the legislature to pass a law that is not subject to veto if the proposal gathers enough voter signatures.

In addition to GM Chief Executive Mary Barra and Ford CEO Jim Farley, the statement's signatories included Swamy Kotagiri, CEO of Magna International; Jay Farmer, CEO of Rocket Companies Inc's Quicken Loans and Rocket Mortgage; and Jerry Norcia, CEO of DTE Energy.

The city's major sports franchises are also represented: Christopher Ilitch, CEO of the company that owns Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers and the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings; Rod Wood, CEO of the National Football League's Detroit Lions; and Arn Tellem, vice chairman of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, all signed the statement.

Georgia's new law, which imposed tougher requirements for absentee ballots and made it illegal for members of the public to offer food and water to voters in line, drew criticism from many companies, including Delta and Coca-Cola.

Ford's Farley said at the time that the U.S. automaker wanted lawmakers to "assure everyone who's entitled to vote is able to exercise that freedom."

Some business leaders have also publicly opposed Republican-led efforts in Texas to pass new voting restrictions.

Most CEOs on a recent private call to discuss voting limits said they would reassess donating to candidates who support such measures and would reconsider whether to invest in states that pass them, Reuters reported on Sunday.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

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