Delta Air Lines has again defended a controversial new voting law in the U.S. state of Georgia, arguing it helped to temper a bill that was bound to pass with or without Delta’s support.
Why Is The Georgia “Election Integrity Act of 2021” So Controversial?
Last week, Georgia lawmakers passed a new 98-page voting law which:
- Prohibits approaching voters in line at polling stations and giving them food or water
- Allows for unlimited challenges to a voter’s registration
- Requires voters to provide a copy of their state ID or driver’s license number or a photocopy of their identification in order to vote absentee
- Protects a voter’s right to request an absentee ballot without providing justification
- Expands early in-person voting to include an additional Saturday vote
- Allows local election officials to begin counting votes as they come in rather than waiting until election day
- Prohibits portable polling sites (such as mobile voting buses), except in the case of emergencies
- Requires precincts which have lines longer than an hour to add more voting machines to reduce wait time
- Strips the Secretary of State from role as Chair of State Election Board
- Authorizes the state legislature to fill 3/5 seats on the board
- The State Election Board will have the authority to suspend or replace local officials who “delay certification” of an election
- Prohibits the Secretary of State from sending unsolicited absentee ballot applications
The law was praised by Republicans, attacked by Democrats, and even called “Jim Crow in the 21st Century” by President Joe Biden.
Why Delta Has Said About The New Law
While Delta expressed its belief that “full and equal access to voting is a fundamental right for all citizens,” it added last Friday:
“The legislation signed this week improved considerably during the legislative process, and expands weekend voting, codifies Sunday voting and protects a voter’s ability to cast an absentee ballot without providing a reason.”
Delta took immense criticism for seemingly supporting the new law, with a campaign to boycott the Atlanta-based carriers trending on Twitter under the hashtag #BoycottDelta.
But despite the pushback, Delta has dug deeper in its support for the bill, with CEO Ed Bastian explaining that Delta really had no other choice.
In a video to employees yesterday, Bastian said:
“I know that many of you are disappointed, frustrated, and angry that we did not take a stronger public stand against specific measures in this bill. Unfortunately, the reality is that would have made it much harder to shape the legislation at all, and we would have lost a seat at the table.”
Bastian raises the difficult ethical dilemma of compromise. Does compromise indicate an abdication of the moral high ground or does it instead recognize that compromise is what holds communities and states…and indeed nations…together?
Bastian further claimed Delta worked to remove “many of the worst elements” of the bill and further noted:
“There are still many elements of the bill that are troubling. And there continues to be work ahead in this important effort.”
Finally, Bastian told employees that the impetus for the new law came from allegations of voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election that “we know never existed.”
Why Is Delta Even Involved In This?
I think Gary from View from the Wing asks the right in question, in wondering:
What is a government-subsidized airline, now part-owned by the federal government…doing tinkering with laws about how people can vote and when? If they can influence the outcome of elections, of course, they can better position themselves for further largesse.
He makes a reasonable point. It’s a bit ironic, though, that had these restrictions been in place the Senate may have remained Republican controlled and Delta would not be looking at a third round of taxpayer bailouts…
Frankly, the compromise issue is a tough one. Humans desire to be on the “right side of history” and support liberty and justice (at least how they subjectively define it). But can we fairly judge issues so starkly as black vs. white, good vs. evil, in such a complicated world? Can the new law really be reduced to simply “bad” or “good” depending upon your political outlook?
CONCLUSION
Facing strong pushback for its tepid but clear support for the new Georgia voting law, Delta has dug deeper and defended its position. Will this pacify calls to boycott Delta or only intensify them? We will soon find out.
Matthew, do you think Delta knew what was in this bill when it took its initial victory lap, or do you support your co-blogger’s view that they are but a simple airline unable to grasp the finer points of non-transportation legislation?
Also, they have backtracked this morning: https://news.delta.com/ed-bastian-memo-your-right-vote
I tend to think they knew what was in the bill, but did not see it as all that bad…they thought trading in permanent absentee ballot rights, expanded weekend polling, and more voting machines as acceptable in exchange for no food or drinks in line or the ability to replace the Secretary of State as Chair of the Board of Elections. Their opposition to the bill now is not due to its content, but due to the outrage over its content.
You’re an airline, not a PAC: stay out of these things! I don’t see why corporations feel compelled to spout off about issues unrelated to their business area. It is a no-win situation for them.
As a side note: I just love how the new Georgia law is framed as “controversial” but HB1 (which has a ton of never before conceived federal powers in it) is not. If you’re unsure of what I mean, read HB1 and see what an overreach it is, versus states making their own rules as the constitution directed them to.
Delta, what is your position about abortion, yes or no?!
Matthew is better than CNN because he reports: Requires precincts which have lines longer than an hour to add more voting machines to reduce wait time.
This is far more important to me than the prohibited giving free food by non poll workers part of the law.
When in a hole Delta…keep digging!
“You’re an airline, not a PAC: stay out of these things! I don’t see why corporations feel compelled to spout off about issues unrelated to their business area. It is a no-win situation for them
UAs’ Scott Kirby seems to have the same penchant
@stogieguy – you’re the type who tells athletes to “stick to sports” I bet…shocking
Oh, and HB-1 exists precisely to counter the Republican voter suppression tactics going on at the moment. Can’t beat the Dems w/policy? Make it harder to vote. That’s all you got at this point.
I truly believe that Delta values inclusion, diversity, and equality. I think socially speaking, the airline is fairly progressive. However I think Bastian recognizes that a Republican controlled state government in their home state benefits them from a financial standpoint.
Globally speaking, Delta can appear to decry Republican policies like guns, “traditional” marriage, and racism. However, they’re willing to sacrifice these things for the people of Georgia in order to keep their Clayton County Kingdom up and running.
Who really believes universal suffrage is good for society? Should idiots, imbeciles and morons be able to vote? Aren’t those the deplorables Democrats think voted for Trump? As for Delta trying to get involved in legislation, it should be free to do so and virtue signal all it wants. The government exists to be lobbied and bought. The only way to reduce the lobbying is to reduce the government.
Republicans want to choose who gets to vote
Democrats want voters to choose them
No wonder our democracy is slipping when the Right doesn’t believe in the fundamental right to vote