Delta CEO calls Georgia voting law ‘unacceptable’ and ‘based on a lie’ after backlash

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian blasted a controversial GOP-backed Georgia voting law on Wednesday after a backlash on social media.

The bill, signed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp last week, is expected to require no-show voting ID, limit ballot boxes, and ban offering food or water to voters online . President Joe Biden called the bill “Jim Crow in the 21st century”.

“Last week the Georgian legislature passed sweeping voting reform law that could make it more difficult for many Georgians, especially those from our black and brown communities, to exercise their right to vote,” Bastian said. in a memo on Wednesday.

“Since the inception of the bill, Delta has joined other large corporations in Atlanta to work closely with elected officials from both parties, to try to remove some of the bill’s more egregious measures,” wrote Bastian. “We succeeded in eliminating the most repressive tactics that some had proposed.
However, I must clarify that the final invoice is unacceptable and does not match Delta’s values. “

“The whole rationale for this bill was based on a lie: that there was widespread voter fraud in Georgia in the 2020 election. This is simply not true,” Bastian said. “Unfortunately, this excuse is being used in states across the country trying to pass similar legislation to restrict voting rights.”

Bastian’s comments come as a host of other executives criticized the new law and several black CEOs urged chief executives to oppose efforts to restrict access to the vote.

“With regard to the electoral legislation that was proposed in Georgia, when we looked at it, we felt that, based on our knowledge of the political climate here, there was no chance that this bill be completely eliminated, “Bastian told staff on Tuesday. a video post, which was reviewed by CNBC.

He said Delta, which is based in Atlanta, has worked to push lawmakers to make changes to improve the bill.

“I know many of you are disappointed, frustrated and angry that we have not taken a stronger public stance against the specific measures in the bill,” Bastian said. “Unfortunately, the reality is that it would have made the wording of the law much more difficult at all and we would have lost a seat at the table.”

Bastian added that he knew staff had to deal with questions from customers about the company’s position.

The airline has also faced calls for a boycott on social media.

Georgia Governor Kemp hit back on Wednesday.

“At no time has Delta opposed the expansion of advance voting, the strengthening of voter identification measures, the increase in the use of secure drop boxes statewide, and the making it easier for local election officials to administer elections – that’s exactly what this bill does.

“The last time I flew with Delta I had to show my photo ID,” Kemp said in a statement. “Today’s statement from Delta CEO Ed Bastian contrasts sharply with our conversations with the company, ignores the content of the new law and unfortunately continues to propagate the same bogus attacks repeated by partisan activists.”

Delta declined to comment further or specify which parts of the bill it attempted to amend.

-CNBC Kevin stankiewicz contributed to this article