American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Dell Technologies, AT&T Release Statements Targeting Election Reform Efforts in Texas

Four major corporations have spoken out against recent Texas election reform bills.

One of the pieces of legislation, Senate Bill 7, would limit extended early voting hours, ban drive-thru voting and prohibit local election officials from automatically sending mail-in-voting applications to voters, according to The Texas Tribune.

Senate Bill 7 also gives more power to poll watchers and requires a doctor’s note for Texans with disabilities who are requesting to vote by mail, as reported by The Associated Press.

These statements come just a day after Delta Airlines and Coca-Cola released statements criticizing election reform efforts in Georgia.

American Airlines criticized the legislation in a statement released Thursday: “Earlier this morning, the Texas State Senate passed legislation with provisions that limit voting access. To make American’s stance clear: We are strongly opposed to this bill and others like it.”

“Any legislation dealing with how elections are conducted must ensure ballot integrity and security while making it easier to vote, not harder. At American, we believe we should break down barriers to diversity, equity and inclusion in our society – not create them,” the statement added.

This has lead to a flurry of comments on the internet, boiling down to. "If companies want to play politics, they should get into politics and out of providing goods and services."

Democrats have been using corporate America as a political tool ever since the deplatforming of prominent conservatives, starting with Laura Loomer and ending with President Donald Trump recently. 

Will the American consumer now start shopping based on corporate politics?