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By Marilyn Odendahl
The Indiana Citizen
November 4, 2024

Business for America, a nonpartisan, nonprofit coalition of civic-minded business leaders and companies, has published an open letter as Election Day nears, asking candidates and election officials to put country above politics.

“The strength of our democratic institutions depends on the integrity and fairness of our elections – this is not a partisan issue,” Business for America wrote in its Oct. 29 letter. “In a free and fair election, everyone eligible to cast a ballot can, all ballots are counted in accordance with the law, and the American people, through their votes, determine the outcome.”

Business for America released a similar letter in 2022 because of the turmoil that followed the 2020 election. The letters align with the organization’s focus on mobilizing businesses to promote voter participation and civic engagement and on building a healthy democracy to boost the economic competitiveness of the United States.

Several member companies of Business for America are either headquartered or have a large presence in Indiana, including Cummins, Salesforce and RecycleForce. None of the business members were asked to sign the letter, but, according to Business for America, the companies know statements will occasionally be released on behalf of the organization.

Sarah Bonk, founder and CEO of Business for America, explained why a stable and thriving democracy is vital to the business community.

“Around the world, democratic governments are linked to greater freedom and better economic outcomes,” Bonk said in an email. “This means it’s in the business community’s own interest to help ensure elections are fair, accessible, accurate, and peaceful. Today, over 80% of business leaders agree that businesses should act to protect our democratic processes.”

In the letter, Business for America noted its members come from diverse industries and locations with employees who hold a range of political viewpoints.

“Across our differences, we all agree that America’s traditions of orderly elections and peaceful transfers of power are essential to our country’s future,” the letter stated.

Consequently, the letter urged every candidate, political party leader, and election official nationwide to uphold the country’s principles of democratic norms and electoral processes. These principles include conducting elections according to the rule of law without partisan bias, allowing eligible voters to vote in a safe and secure electoral process, using reliable and authoritative sources for voting information and election results, and submitting claims of election irregularities made in good faith for review by the judicial system.

“Regardless of the results on election night (and the days that follow as the counting of votes proceeds),” the letter concluded, “we ask every candidate, election official, and public servant to put our country first by committing to act according to these principles and helping to restore confidence in our elections.”

Dwight Adams, an editor and writer based in Indianapolis, edited this article. He is a former content editor, copy editor and digital producer at The Indianapolis Star and IndyStar.com, and worked as a planner for other newspapers, including the Louisville Courier Journal.

The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed and engaged Hoosier citizens. We are operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. For questions about the story, contact Marilyn Odendahl at marilyn.odendahl@indianacitizen.org.