Apple CEO Tim Cook is joining a chorus of business executives in speaking out in favor of expanding access to voting and against Georgia’s new elections law.
In a statement to Axios on Thursday, Cook said, “The right to vote is fundamental in a democracy. American history is the story of expanding the right to vote to all citizens, and Black people, in particular, have had to march, struggle and even give their lives for more than a century to defend that right.”
He continued, “Apple believes that, thanks in part to the power of technology, it ought to be easier than ever for every eligible citizen to exercise their right to vote.”
“We support efforts to ensure that our democracy’s future is more hopeful and inclusive than its past,” Cook added.
Cook’s statement comes as several CEOs have spoken out to criticize a new election law in Georgia which some have claimed is “Jim Crow in the 21st Century.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed the new law late last month. It strengthens voter identification requirements, limits the use of drop boxes, extends the number of days allowed for early voting, shortens the length of run-off campaigns, and shortens the absentee voting window.
The bill also makes it a misdemeanor to hand out “any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink” to people standing in line to vote.
In light of new law, several CEOs have spoken out in favor of voting rights and expanding access to voting.
Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey, whose company was facing boycotts, said the company “always opposed” the bill and “now that it’s passed, we’re coming out more publicly.”
Kemp has addressed criticism from the business leaders as he said, “If they want to have a debate about the merits and the facts of the bill, then we should do that.”
“I would encourage these CEOs to look at other states that they’re doing business in and compare what the real facts are to Georgia,” he added.