In the days leading to the 2024 General Election, the Detroit Regional Chamber is sharing resources with business leaders to help inform their employees and communities to combat misinformation and confusion while reinforcing the security and integrity of American election processes.
It is no secret that the political landscape in recent years has been more fraught with tension, partisanship, and conflict than ever. As the 2024 General Election approaches, it is imperative for citizens to maintain civility in exercising their rights and civic duty. Society and business thrive in stability, and the security and integrity of democratic processes contribute significantly to that.
Recent polling from the Detroit Regional Chamber and The Glengariff Group, Inc. point to high levels of dissatisfaction with the state of democracy in the U.S., dwindling faith in democracy as the best form of government, and a concerning number of Michigan voters who believe violence is justified if their preferred presidential candidate does not win the 2024 election.
How can these issues be combatted as the election quickly approaches?
Reference – and Share – Nonpartisan, Factual Election Resources
“As business leaders, and trusted sources of information for our employees and communities, we are in a unique – and privileged – position to ensure these groups are equipped with factual, timely information about our nation’s secure and fair electoral processes,” said Sandy K. Baruah, Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer.
The Chamber has been working closely with the Michigan Department of State to ensure employers and their teams have the most up-to-date, accurate resources around the election and election processes. You can explore them here and share them with your communities.
The Michigan Department of State also offers a fact-checking tool to verify information and resources for accuracy at michigan.gov/SOSFactCheck.
Model Respect and Civility
“Our election workers and election officials are our neighbors, and many of them are volunteers,” said Baruah. “We owe them our thanks and our respect, and it is our shared responsibility to keep them safe from harm and threats.”
While differing opinions and protests are protected under Americans’ First Amendment rights, it is important to remember to exercise those rights civilly.
Election challengers and poll watchers are non-governmental volunteers designated to observe and flag concerns around potential election law violations. These individuals are allowed to be present at polling places and do things like notify a challenger liaison of perceived violations of election laws by third parties.
They cannot, however, speak or interact with voters, physically touch or interact with election materials like ballots, or threaten or intimidate voters or poll workers. Learn more about what election challengers can and cannot do here.
Election workers are our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members volunteering their time – often long hours – to ensure secure, fair elections take place and that voters are able to cast their ballots without disruption. Laws are in place to keep election workers and polling locations safe, and it benefits all voters to maintain order as they participate in this democratic process.
Processes Are Secure
Election workers follow laws and established procedures to usher voters through the voting process and to securely tabulate ballots. Measures are in place to verify voters’ identities and maintain the secrecy of voters’ ballots, for example, and rules are closely enforced.
To help uphold election security, report acts of voter intimidation or misconduct to an election worker, your local clerk, or by calling the hotline below:
- English: 866-OUR-VOTE / (866) 687-8683
- Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA / (888) 839-8682
- Arabic: 844-YALLA-US / (844) 925-5287
- Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Urdu, and Vietnamese: 888-API-VOTE / (888) 274-8683
Related: Michigan Business Leaders Work to Ensure Workers Stay Civil
Related: How Local Leaders Are Setting the Stage for Developing Civil Dialogue Today and Tomorrow