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Washington, D.C. — Government watchdog Accountable.US released an analysis  revealing that several corporations — including Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook — that signed a letter in support of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act have donated over $164,000 in 2021 alone to the Republican Senators that voted to obstruct the bill this week. Republicans blocked the bipartisan bill despite new polling showing that more than three in five Americans support the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.  

“It’s beyond cowardly and manipulative for corporations that claim to support voting rights to cut big campaign checks to politicians trying to rip those same rights away from all voters, especially voters of color,” said Kyle Herrig, president of Accountable.US. “Executives’ flowery declarations in support of a healthy democracy mean nothing unless they back their purported values with action – and yet the only action we see from many big-name companies is backing lawmakers who want to disenfranchise millions. These companies are not fooling their shareholders, customers, and employees about what they truly value – holding political influence no matter what.”   

A previous Accountable.US report found several companies — including Verizon, Target, and Amazon — that publicly support voting rights have donated $174,000 in 2021 alone to the Senate Republicans that oppose the most significant voting rights bill in generations, the Freedom To Vote Act. The watchdog group also revealed a new analysis this week highlighting the 16 Senate Republicans — including Sens. McConnell, Grassley, and Cornyn — that previously voted to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act but have now abandoned support for voting rights.  

KEY DETAILS FROM THE REPORT: 

Since July 2021, hundreds of businesses have signed on to a letter in support of restoring the Voting Rights Act. Yet, so far in 2021, major corporate signers of the letter have donated at least $164,500 to the Senate Republicans who blocked the bill the companies claim to support. These corporations include:  

  • Microsoft Corporation signed on to the letter, but donated a total of $15,500 to Senate Republicans.  
  • Amazon signed on to the letter, but donated a total of $22,500 to Senate Republicans.  
  • Facebook signed on to the letter, but donated a total of $26,500 to Senate Republicans.   
  • Intel Corporation signed on to the letter, but donated a total of $7,500 to Senate Republicans.  
  • Cisco signed on to the letter, but donated a total of $5,000 to Senate Republicans.   
  • Target signed on to the letter, but donated a total of $32,000 to Senate Republicans.   
  • Dell Technologies signed on to the letter, but donated a total of $38,500 to Senate Republicans.  
  • Boston Scientific signed on to the letter, but donated a total of $17,000 to Senate Republicans.   

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