Tyson Foods joins Time to Vote coalition

Tyson Foods joins more than 700 companies – including Walmart – as part of Time to Vote, a business-led, nonpartisan coalition working to increase voter participation in U.S. elections.

Time to Vote noted in the release that voter turnout in the U.S. is one of the lowest in the developed world, in part because people are too busy with life and work to make time for casting their votes. Employers in the coalition, which represent more than six million U.S. workers, is addressing this challenge by giving employees the time and tools they need to exercise their right to vote in the November general election.

The 2020 elections are expected to face uncertain challenges with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the coalition hopes to help raise voter turnout in November.

“The need has never been greater for businesses to provide their employees dedicated time off to vote,” said Dan Schulman, president and CEO of PayPal, one of the three companies that founded Time to Vote in 2018. “No American should have to choose between earning a paycheck and voting. Business leaders around the country must step up and do what’s needed to ensure all of their employees will have the opportunity to have their voices heard this November.”

Tyson joins Bank of America, Cox Communications, Visa, Unilever, Macy’s and Nike as companies to join the coalition in the past two months.

“As a member of the organization, our company is committed to encouraging our team members to vote this fall. Some of the steps we’ll be taking at our U.S. facilities will include providing resources to facilitate voter registration, where to vote and reminding team members of CDC safety guidance for in-person voting,” said Tyson Foods corporate spokesman Gary Mickelson.