Business owners: Don't give up on voting rights reform

<p>(Ohio News Connection) - More than 200 business owners are <a href="https://www.asbnetwork.org/protect-voting-rights-and-democracy" target="_blank">calling on others</a> to support federal reforms to strengthen election laws.<br> <br> Senate Democrats were unable to change the filibuster rules Wednesday night to pass legislation expanding voting access across the country.<br> <br> Barry Cik, owner of Naturepedic, an organic mattress company in northeast Ohio and a member of the American Sustainable Business Network, said businesses understand a functioning economy relies on a functioning democracy, which, he emphasized, requires citizen involvement.<br> <br> "If I may be a little bit harsh, we can't just trust government to do the right thing," Cik contended. "We need citizen participation. We want a society where everybody's treated equal, everybody has a chance to succeed. Voting rights is one part of that."<br> <br> The bill defeated in the Senate would have established minimum federal voting standards. It was a response to dozens of bills passed in GOP-controlled states Democrats argued were designed to make it harder to vote.<br> <br> Some Senate Republicans are now discussing launching a bipartisan effort to pass a smaller bill focused on safeguarding election results and protecting elected officials from harassment.<br> <br> Thomas Oppel, executive vice president of the American Sustainable Business Network, said measures restricting access to the ballot can lead to an autocratic government favoring special interests and limiting entrepreneurship.<br> <br> "If people don't have confidence in their government, you're going to end up with 'crony capitalism,'" Oppel asserted. "Where it's not about your ability to deliver a quality product or deliver a better price. It's about who you know, what connections you have, and how much corruption and graft you're willing to put up with."<br> <br> Oppel believes creating more opportunities to vote is helpful for small businesses.<br> <br> "Most businesses in this