We Stand for Democracy

In response to discriminatory efforts to suppress voting across the country, hundreds of business, tech, health, nonprofit, and foundation leaders, including Surdna Foundation President Don Chen, joined forces to issue the below statement. This statement appears as a two-page ad in today’s Washington Post, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal.

Government of the people, by the people.

A beautifully American ideal, but a reality denied to many for much of this nation’s history.

As Americans, we know that in our democracy we should not expect to agree on everything.

However, regardless of our political affiliations the very foundation of our electoral process rests upon the ability of each of us to cast our ballots for the candidates of our choice.

Together, we all share a responsibility to defend the right to vote and to oppose any discriminatory legislation or measures that restrict or prevent any eligible voter from having an equal and fair opportunity to cast a ballot.

For American democracy to work for any of us, we must ensure the right to vote for all of us.

We call upon all Americans to join us in taking a nonpartisan stand for this most basic and fundamental right.