David K. Young, President of the Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, released the following statement given the upcoming midterm elections:
A Stable Democracy at 250: Trusted Elections Are the Foundation of Economic Growth and Business Confidence
US economic growth and business confidence depend on a stable democracy grounded in secure, credible, and accessible elections. Businesses invest and operate best with predictable governance, the rule of law, and trust in the political system. Free and fair elections provide that foundation, supporting capital formation, long-term investment, and sustained prosperity while reducing the risk of distortions such as crony capitalism.
Since 1942, the Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, has advanced policies that promote credible, transparent, and competitive elections. These principles are central to public confidence in government and essential to the long-term strength of the US economy and its global leadership.
Free and fair elections ensure that eligible voters can participate and that outcomes reflect the will of the electorate. Maintaining the strengths of our system requires continued vigilance. Protecting the integrity of elections and public trust in their outcomes is a shared responsibility across government, the private sector, and civil society.
The Role of the Business Community
- Capitalism and democracy are intrinsically connected. Yet, trust in both has declined.
- Americans place high trust in the business community; it can maintain that trust by engaging all stakeholders on the importance of supporting existing electoral processes.
- The business community has the opportunity to enable civic participation and provide accommodations for eligible employees to participate in the democratic process.
Election Administration
- Proper administration of free and fair elections is central to an effective and trustworthy democracy.
- Pre-election audits and transparent processes help identify and resolve issues well before Election Day and strengthen confidence in elections.
- Ongoing attention to the security of voter registration systems, voting equipment, and broader election infrastructure underpin public trust.
The Conduct of Elections
- Everyone who is legally eligible to vote should have the opportunity to do so safely, securely, and conveniently.
- A range of voting options—including in-person voting, early voting, and voting by mail—helps accommodate diverse needs if security and integrity are upheld.
- Election administrators must remain vigilant against intimidation or interference.
- Protecting election workers and voters is a pivotal obligation.
- Timely and accurate vote counting, using reliable procedures and safeguards, bolsters public confidence.
The Federal, State, and Local Roles
- The Constitution assigns primary responsibility for election administration to the states, reflecting the country’s federal structure.
- Nonpartisan and bipartisan approaches at the state and local level play a critical role in maintaining public trust.
- The Federal government plays an important supporting role, particularly in areas such as cybersecurity. The Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative, a public-private partnership, is a useful resource for cybersecurity coordination.
Information Integrity Risks
- The modern information environment presents new and rapidly evolving challenges, including deepfakes, disinformation, and manipulated content. Public education is important to help voters navigate information responsibly.
- Candidates and institutions can reaffirm standards of integrity in their communications.
- Addressing emerging risks may require thoughtful approaches, including transparency and appropriate safeguards; growing threats may eventually require further regulation at the Federal or state level.
Voters
- An informed electorate is the bedrock of democracy. Public education efforts should clearly communicate how, when, and where to vote.
- Open dialogue and debate among candidates strengthen democratic participation, public awareness, and accountability.
Business Leaders
- Business leaders can emphasize the importance of voting in building a strong civil society and ensuring economic prosperity.
- Business leaders can serve as a trustworthy resource on the voting process.
- Business leaders, through their employee communications and company policies, can encourage eligible employees to vote and to serve as poll workers. Power the Polls is a nonpartisan resource for poll worker engagement.
- Business leaders can enhance and expand existing efforts to understand how the public interprets AI-generated media.
- Business leaders, working with Congress, can positively impact existing efforts to enable voters to identify misinformation and disinformation. Best practices in identifying synthetic media should be spread widely. Useful resources include Microsoft’s Real or Not quiz, PolitiFact, and FactCheck.org.
- CED has issued a toolkit to help chambers of commerce and businesses engage with employees regarding the midterm elections.
Democracy Promotes Better Government
It is our strong conviction that a stable democracy—supported by free, fair, secure, credible, and accessible elections—promotes better governance, the rule of law, and regulatory predictability and consistently supports stable economic outcomes. Robust governance, in turn, fosters trust and confidence, which are essential for sustained investment, capital formation, and long-term economic prosperity. Where public trust is weakened, particularly in periods of heightened polarization or misinformation, the appropriate response is to reaffirm and strengthen democratic institutions, including respect for the peaceful transfer of power following elections. Elected officials are accountable to the people. They should work with civility and seek common ground to address national and local challenges. This fosters the conditions for stronger economic growth, sustained prosperity, enhanced trust in democratic institutions, and enduring confidence in a free society.
David K. Young, President of the Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, released the following statement given the upcoming midterm elections:
A Stable Democracy at 250: Trusted Elections Are the Foundation of Economic Growth and Business Confidence
US economic growth and business confidence depend on a stable democracy grounded in secure, credible, and accessible elections. Businesses invest and operate best with predictable governance, the rule of law, and trust in the political system. Free and fair elections provide that foundation, supporting capital formation, long-term investment, and sustained prosperity while reducing the risk of distortions such as crony capitalism.
Since 1942, the Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, has advanced policies that promote credible, transparent, and competitive elections. These principles are central to public confidence in government and essential to the long-term strength of the US economy and its global leadership.
Free and fair elections ensure that eligible voters can participate and that outcomes reflect the will of the electorate. Maintaining the strengths of our system requires continued vigilance. Protecting the integrity of elections and public trust in their outcomes is a shared responsibility across government, the private sector, and civil society.
The Role of the Business Community
- Capitalism and democracy are intrinsically connected. Yet, trust in both has declined.
- Americans place high trust in the business community; it can maintain that trust by engaging all stakeholders on the importance of supporting existing electoral processes.
- The business community has the opportunity to enable civic participation and provide accommodations for eligible employees to participate in the democratic process.
Election Administration
- Proper administration of free and fair elections is central to an effective and trustworthy democracy.
- Pre-election audits and transparent processes help identify and resolve issues well before Election Day and strengthen confidence in elections.
- Ongoing attention to the security of voter registration systems, voting equipment, and broader election infrastructure underpin public trust.
The Conduct of Elections
- Everyone who is legally eligible to vote should have the opportunity to do so safely, securely, and conveniently.
- A range of voting options—including in-person voting, early voting, and voting by mail—helps accommodate diverse needs if security and integrity are upheld.
- Election administrators must remain vigilant against intimidation or interference.
- Protecting election workers and voters is a pivotal obligation.
- Timely and accurate vote counting, using reliable procedures and safeguards, bolsters public confidence.
The Federal, State, and Local Roles
- The Constitution assigns primary responsibility for election administration to the states, reflecting the country’s federal structure.
- Nonpartisan and bipartisan approaches at the state and local level play a critical role in maintaining public trust.
- The Federal government plays an important supporting role, particularly in areas such as cybersecurity. The Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative, a public-private partnership, is a useful resource for cybersecurity coordination.
Information Integrity Risks
- The modern information environment presents new and rapidly evolving challenges, including deepfakes, disinformation, and manipulated content. Public education is important to help voters navigate information responsibly.
- Candidates and institutions can reaffirm standards of integrity in their communications.
- Addressing emerging risks may require thoughtful approaches, including transparency and appropriate safeguards; growing threats may eventually require further regulation at the Federal or state level.
Voters
- An informed electorate is the bedrock of democracy. Public education efforts should clearly communicate how, when, and where to vote.
- Open dialogue and debate among candidates strengthen democratic participation, public awareness, and accountability.
Business Leaders
- Business leaders can emphasize the importance of voting in building a strong civil society and ensuring economic prosperity.
- Business leaders can serve as a trustworthy resource on the voting process.
- Business leaders, through their employee communications and company policies, can encourage eligible employees to vote and to serve as poll workers. Power the Polls is a nonpartisan resource for poll worker engagement.
- Business leaders can enhance and expand existing efforts to understand how the public interprets AI-generated media.
- Business leaders, working with Congress, can positively impact existing efforts to enable voters to identify misinformation and disinformation. Best practices in identifying synthetic media should be spread widely. Useful resources include Microsoft’s Real or Not quiz, PolitiFact, and FactCheck.org.
- CED has issued a toolkit to help chambers of commerce and businesses engage with employees regarding the midterm elections.
Democracy Promotes Better Government
It is our strong conviction that a stable democracy—supported by free, fair, secure, credible, and accessible elections—promotes better governance, the rule of law, and regulatory predictability and consistently supports stable economic outcomes. Robust governance, in turn, fosters trust and confidence, which are essential for sustained investment, capital formation, and long-term economic prosperity. Where public trust is weakened, particularly in periods of heightened polarization or misinformation, the appropriate response is to reaffirm and strengthen democratic institutions, including respect for the peaceful transfer of power following elections. Elected officials are accountable to the people. They should work with civility and seek common ground to address national and local challenges. This fosters the conditions for stronger economic growth, sustained prosperity, enhanced trust in democratic institutions, and enduring confidence in a free society.
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