A group of faith-based investors is calling on companies to help ensure fair elections.
In a letter sent Thursday to more than 200 companies, including members of the Business Roundtable, the governing board of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility called for collective action to ensure free and fair elections.
"The unstable climate surrounding the 2020 presidential election directly threatens every aspect of our society, not least of which are the millions of businesses still struggling to recover from the devastating impacts of COVID-19," they wrote in the letter.
ICCR is a coalition of more than 300 faith- and values-based investors engaging with companies to enhance management of environmental and social risks.
Recent statements by the White House and some members of Congress "raising the unfounded specter of election fraud are undermining public confidence in the security of election processes," while the resulting market volatility causes instability for the economy, businesses and investors, they said.
"As faith- and values-based investors, we believe the business community has a moral and business imperative to use its public platforms to promote confidence in our elections and our democracy. We also view this responsibility as a fulfillment of the social license granted corporations, and a demonstration of the Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, recently rewritten by the Business Roundtable, committing the corporate purpose to the well-being of all stakeholders."
ICCR members asked the companies to endorse six principles, including condemning voter intimidation tactics and ensuring that their lobbying activity and political donations support fair elections.
"While the temptation for corporations to remain passive during these challenging times may be great, we believe that this is in fact a defining moment to exhibit leadership," the ICCR letter said.
