Johnson Controls joins Time to Vote coalition

Johnson Controls has joined a coalition of U.S. companies representing more than 2 million workers for a nonpartisan movement called Time to Vote. The goal is to increase voter participation in the Nov. 3, 2020 general election.

By joining Time to Vote, CEOs and business owners commit to making accommodations for workers that help enable them to vote, such as paid time off on Election Day, making Election Day a day without meetings or providing resources for mail-in ballots and early voting. Time to Vote is nonpartisan and there is no cost for companies to join.

"There is nothing more sacred or important in our civic life than the right to vote and to have a voice in how our country is run,” said Johnson Controls Chairman and CEO George Oliver. “We believe our employees should have the support and encouragement to vote in all elections and that is why we are a proud supporter of Time to Vote."

To date, 383 companies employing workers in every U.S. state have signed up for Time to Vote. In addition to Johnson Controls, Time to Vote members include Best Buy, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Farmers Insurance, Gap Inc., Glossier Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Kaiser Permanente, Levi Strauss & Co., Lyft, PayPal, Patagonia, REI Co-op, Target, VF Corporation, Walmart, Warby Parker and hundreds more.

"When the business community comes together to take a stand on issues that affect all Americans, it sends a powerful message," said Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice, a leading nonpartisan voice on voting rights and elections. "Ultimately, a culture shift will meaningfully boost voter participation, and business leaders can help drive that shift."

The Time to Vote movement began ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, when 411 companies representing all 50 states and a variety of industries joined. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 53% of eligible voters cast ballots. This was the highest turnout for a U.S. midterm in four decades.

This year, the Time to Vote movement aims to more than double in size and again contribute to an increase in voter participation. Even with local election offices offering a variety of ways for citizens to vote, including mail-in ballots and early voting, time to vote and taking the time to learn what's on the ballot can still be an issue for many American workers, according to the organization.