Voter Registration Drive Launched by America's Largest Private Company, Wal-Mart
BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Sept. 29, 2006 – Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) today launched their associate voter registration drive, distributing materials to its more than 1.3 million associates in the United States. Wal-Mart is the largest private company in American history to undertake such an effort. The voter registration drive was kicked off in Iowa, which has over 17,000 associates.
“As the nation’s largest private employer, we are in a unique position to strengthen the communities we serve by encouraging our associates to register to vote and empowering them to participate in America’s democracy,” said Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott. “We are excited to launch this program today and eager to see our associates take a more dynamic role in the electoral process.”
A bipartisan team of voter participation experts including Charles Baker, an attorney and senior Democratic strategist with the law firm of DLA Piper, and Terry Nelson, founder and principal of Crosslink Strategy and a senior Republican strategist, is working with the company to ensure that the tools provided to associates result in the highest level of integrity and voter participation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the traditional “off year” elections can see voter participation drop almost 20 percent (from 59% in 2000 and 66% in 2004 compared to 42% in 2002).
Beth Runyan, store manager of the West Des Moines store said, “I’m proud to work for a company that takes a genuine interest in my role in the democratic process. Wal-Mart has always provided me and my fellow associates with opportunities to advance our careers and give back to our communities, but now Wal-Mart is helping us be better citizens through encouraging civic engagement.”
The company plans to distribute state-specific voter registration forms to all 1.3 million store, club and distribution center associates across the United States. To simplify the process, the forms will include pre-paid postage in most states, including Iowa, so an associate can simply fill out the voter registration form and drop it in the mail. The company will also distribute voter education information to all associates before Election Day.
The company has a policy of granting associates, whose work schedules do not allow sufficient time on Election Day to vote, paid time off in order to make it to the polls.
As part of the drive, Wal-Mart will also be distributing educational materials made available by the League of Women Voters, as well as a voter education packet. This will help familiarize associates with new election procedures and direct them to additional resources.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM’S CLUB locations in the United States. The company also operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. The company’s securities are listed on the New York and NYSE Arca stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartfacts.com.
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