Corporations are Mixing Business and Politics

During the 2000 and 2002 elections, some companies tried to help their employees register to vote, and also mounted get-out-the-vote efforts. According to the Washington Post, a lot more companies are getting in the act.

The Post reports that of the 150 companies that belong to the Business Roundtable, 99 are participating in its voter-registration program this year, compared to 27 two years ago. Political action committees as well as lobbying groups–such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce–are also ramping up their voter-registration programs for employees of private companies.

One PAC conducted focus groups which showed “that 60 to 70 percent of employees who used company-provided information voted for the pro-business candidates,” according to the Post. When employees were contacted several times by companies, the employees were more likely to vote than those who weren’t contacted by their employers.

Exxon Mobil, DaimlerChrysler, Caterpillar and other companies will use their intranets and mass e-mails to encourage employees to vote, and gently encourage them to vote “pro-business.” Meanwhile, the association of beer wholesalers will distribute posters that read, “Be Sure to Vote Pro-Beer.”