The strength of our democracy and the health of our economy depend on the fairness and integrity of our elections. As our commonwealth faces a highly contested election in which the results may take weeks to determine, we as business leaders write to you deeply concerned about the economic implications of this period of uncertainty and to ask for your leadership in embracing civility and bipartisanship.

Quoted in Forbes magazine, LPL Financial’s Chief Investment Officer Burt White forecast that “while there is a fair chance that the election result may be delayed slightly, we expect the strength of our political institutions to prevail. Even if the process is bumpier than expected, market risks will likely be tempered unless there’s a political breakdown that threatens lasting damage to the economy or corporate America.” We ask you to consider every means by which Pennsylvania can avoid political and social turmoil.

With historic voter turnout and an unprecedented number of people voting by mail, as well as the likelihood of legal challenges, we recognize that it will be weeks before the outcome is fully settled. We urge you to show leadership with de-escalating rhetoric and respect for existing election rules. Anything less than an authentic, accountable commitment to respecting the voters’ could lead to increased social unrest. This, we believe will further damage the business climate and depress our economy at a time when stability and consumer confidence are needed most.  

Today we ask for you to make a public commitment that:

1. Every vote received by November 6th will be counted. We must stand up for the process and the will of voters.
2. Incidents of fraud, voter suppression, or other election irregularities will be investigated impartially and remedied as appropriate.
3. Bad-faith challenges to voter eligibility or ballot validity will be investigated and potentially prosecuted.
4. Electors will be assigned based on the popular vote and will not be superseded by the state legislature.
5. Election results will be affirmed by both parties’ leadership regardless of who wins. After every election, win or lose, we have to find a way to come back together as a country.

In 2019, Republicans and Democrats worked together to pass the historic Act 77, the most significant improvement to Pennsylvania's elections in more than 80 years. Maintaining the public’s confidence in the integrity of the election system is essential to the state’s long-term success. Today, Pennsylvania business leaders come together across partisan lines to urge you to lead with unity and cooperation in this historic moment. Our actions will determine whether Pennsylvanians will remain confident in our country’s long tradition of peaceful and fair elections. We ask that you commit fully and publicly to ensuring that the will of the people will be heard.