Small Businesses Demand that Fight for Voting Rights Must Continue

January 20, 2022

In response to the Senate’s failure to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act , Main Street Alliance Co-Executive Director Chanda Causer had this to say:

“Main Street Alliance and our small business members are frustrated and disappointed by the Senate’s failure to advance the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. Failing to pass voting rights legislation that protects our democracy directly threatens our economy. The continued blocking, at every turn, does not provide small businesses confidence in the state of our democracy or local economy. The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act aims to achieve goals that have long had strong bipartisan support. These include prohibiting gerrymandering, and increasing disclosure of money spent in federal elections, which are particularly important to small businesses - ignored over excessive corporate influence. These reforms are critical for the business owners' voices in many states who are being suppressed, particularly those in Black and brown communities. There is a direct link between a functioning and truly representative government and a functioning market economy. With this latest procedural failure, we must renew our commitment to achieving the freedom to vote in whatever way possible, including reforming broken Senate rules to preserve and restore our democracy.”