2026 Election Threats and Actions Companies Can Take
Richard Eidlin, (facilitator)
Richard Eidlin leads the Business Response to Authoritarian Threats. His career has spanned the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, domestically and internationally. Richard served as Business for America’s National Policy Director for 7 years, leading bipartisan advocacy campaigns on Capitol Hill on the Voting Rights Advancement Act, Electoral Count Reform Act and Building Civic Bridges Act. He is a co-founder of the American Sustainable Business Council, and worked
for NYC government and the United Nations Environment Programme.
If we are to believe what we’re seeing on the news, and statements made by members of this administration, it is more important than ever that we stay vigilant in protecting the mechanisms of Democracy in this coming election. Despite Article 1, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution conferring states with the authority to run elections, we’ve heard recent calls for the elections to be federalized and threats to “have ICE surround the polls come November.” State and local election officials are being threatened and criticized by the administration, including the Department of Justice, which has repeatedly asked state election officials to provide voter roll data.
Elections are the cornerstone of our republic. The business community plays a significant role in promoting a fair, free, and secure election in 2026. Elections preserve our democratic traditions, provide for a robust civic debate, and allow employees/voters to weigh in on critical issues. The relationship between a free election system, a dynamic economy, and a stable constitutional democracy is well understood. While the midterms are months away, it’s time for businesses and business organizations to begin understanding the threats and develop a plan for how they can support a free election.
The March 13th nonpartisan webinar is organized by the Business Response to Authoritarian Threats (BRTAT) hosted by ASBN and other business organizations, is the first in an ongoing series of educational programs about the 2026 election.
We’ll hear experts discuss threats and vulnerabilities facing our election infrastructure, and what the private sector can do to support election integrity. There will be time for Q&A. Join us.
Topics:
- Election Landscape – current and emerging efforts by the administration and their allies to undermine how states and communities run elections (e.g., vote by mail, voter registration, certification processes, DOJ interference, the SAVE Act)
- Specific threats facing state & local officials – misinformation, intimidation, political violence and election system security.
- Actions business can take – employee voter education, time off to vote, poll worker recruitment, material support to election officials, and speaking up to defend the integrity of the election system.
Audience: ASBN Members, partners and the public
Integrity Matters
https://integritymatters.org/
New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility
https://www.nhbsr.org/
Secure Democracy USA
League of Women Voters
ECOS
Michael Green
ASBN
Michael Green supports the ASBN Climate and Energy Steering Committee, providing policy briefs and strategic guidance on climate policy. Michael is the Director of Carbon Markets at ASBN member, Native. From 2012–2021, he was Executive Director of Climate XChange. A 2016 White House Champion of Change, he serves on multiple nonprofit boards. Michael is based in Woodstock, Vermont. He enjoys cycling, skiing, snowboarding, and hiking.