2024 Election Readiness and Corporate Political Responsibility: Six Strategies for a Proactive, Principled Approach

An invitation to executives to manage risk, maintain stability and take non–partisan action to ensure the health of our civic institutions

The 2024 General Election is approaching fast. Across the country, voters will go to the polls in a political landscape that is increasingly polarized and volatile. With energized stakeholders looking for companies to lead, business will undoubtedly be called on to take stands on our civic processes and institutions.  

In this moment, business leaders can turn to the emerging approach and practice of Corporate Political Responsibility to navigate cross-pressures responsibly, to mitigate risk and support long-term goals. This virtual mini-conference, designed for senior leaders in Government Relations, Legal, Sustainability, HR, DEIJ, Corporate Responsibility or Corporate Communications, will lay out the steps companies can take now to prepare for this year’s general election environment and will spotlight partners who can help.

Topics will include:​

• US political risks and implications for business 
• Sample scenarios and why business needs principles 
• Governance structures and crisis response plans 
• Internal- and external-facing initiatives and actions  

We will be considering questions such as: 

• How serious is US political risk and what are the implications for business? 
• What hypothetical scenarios do we need to be prepared for? For example, what if there are questions of election integrity or acts of political violence in a state where we operate?  
• How will we decide whether and how to engage? What are our principles and “red lines?” 
• How should we be supporting employee civic engagement — and bridging where there are differing views? 
• Should we advocate for policy solutions to support trusted elections and civic bridging? 

Participants will leave with a better understanding of US political risks and the implications for business, an overview of the Erb Principles for Corporate Political Responsibility, and a menu of six specific steps they can take to increase their readiness, including potential partners to help them follow through.  

The session will be hosted by the Erb Institute’s Corporate Political Responsibility Taskforce, with featured speaker and partners including:  

• Lauren Caplan, Leadership Now Project 
• Chris Padilla, IBM
• Former Member of Congress Claudine Schneider
• Jen Stark and Mary Anne Howland, BSR
• Sarah Bonk and Richard Eidlin, Business for America
• Anjelica Smith, Civic Alliance
  
• Bruce Freed, Center for Political Accountability
• Bennett Freeman, Chatham House – International Law Program
• Scott Warren, SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University
• Julia Roig, Horizons Project
• Tom Lyon, Terry Nelidov and Elizabeth Doty, the Erb Institute at the University of Michigan
• And more

The Erb Institute’s Corporate Political Responsibility Taskforce is a private forum to help companies better align their political influence with their commitments to values, purpose, sustainability and stakeholders, while fostering CPR as a shared norm. The Institute is also home to the Erb Principles for Corporate Political Responsibility, a non​​-partisan template to help companies determine whether and how to engage in civic and political affairs responsibly. Find more on the CPRT website or contact Elizabeth Doty at [email protected]. 

Non-partisanship & Non-advocacy: The CPRT is strictly non-partisan and does not advocate, promote or support any political party or candidate. While members and partners may express their views freely, we do not endorse or advocate particular policies or legislation but may provide thought processes for evaluating proposals based on CPR principles.