AZ Votes Forum: Elections in Evolution
Stable Elections Are a Business Issue
Leadership Now Arizona co-founder John Fees joins Arizona PBS’s AZ Votes Forum on the future of Arizona elections
On September 22, John Fees, co-founder of Leadership Now Arizona, joined a panel at the ASU Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory’s fall election convening, held at the ASU Cronkite School. Arizona PBS taped the discussion for AZ Votes Forum: Elections in Evolution, which aired September 25. “Arizona Horizon” host Ted Simons moderated. Fees was joined by Bill Gates, director of the lab and former Maricopa County Supervisor; Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly; and Sasha Hupka of Votebeat Arizona.
Watch the ForumThe panel examined how frequent changes to election law, including Prop 144, could affect election administration, costs, voter access, and public trust. Panelists discussed fact-based reform, stronger voter engagement, support for election officials and local journalism, and the role of business in promoting safe, accessible, accurate, and predictable elections.
Fees explained why business has a stake:
“Our first and foremost concern, I think, is for safe, accessible and accurate elections.… From a business side, we’ve been pretty complacent. We’ve taken for granted our elections are going to be safe and accessible and accurate.”
“You can’t expect business to invest in an unpredictable market. And when you have chaos around your election system, it’s really a big problem.”
John Fees, CEO, GradGuard; Co-Founder, Leadership Now Arizona
He also encouraged other CEOs to see the process firsthand: “Volunteer, spend a day and witness these election officials doing a great job.”
Gates recalled his time on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, when the county’s election officials faced intense criticism. He credited Fees, fellow Leadership Now Arizona co-founder Adam Goodman, and other Leadership Now members for speaking up:
“It was John and Adam Goodman and others in Leadership Now who stood up. We heard their voices.”
Bill Gates, Director, ASU Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory
Leadership Now Arizona is the Arizona chapter of Leadership Now Project, a coalition of business leaders shaping the talent and policies for America’s next chapter.
