NC County Bans Coca-Cola Vending Machines Over Georgia Voting Laws
Several companies have made their opinions known over the controversial Georgia voting laws. Now one North Carolina county has banned Coca-Cola vending machines in their office buildings. But it’s not in response to the laws- it’s about how Coca-Cola responded to them. Surry County officials stated that they are unhappy with Coca-Cola’s criticism of the Georgia Republicans’ new voting laws.
They have stated that they are removing all Coca-Cola vending machines from county-owned and operated office buildings. Currently, the machines have yet to be removed.
Coca-Cola is a Georgia-based company that has recently been outspoken over voting rights. Georgia Republican lawmakers passed a bill in March that shortens the period of absentee voting and cuts down on the number of ballot drop boxes. Democrats and activists claim the new law targets voters in minority communities.
Surry County Commissioner Eddie Harris told news station WXII that he believes the country needs better election security and voter ID. He also drew attention to Coca-Cola’s “left-wing politics”
“Millions of Americans believe that the last presidential election was not held in a fair manner and that more voter fraud will occur in the future if elections are not more closely monitored and regulated,” Harris wrote in a letter, reported by WXII.
According to WXII a spokesman for Coca-Cola Consolidated, a bottling company separate from Coca-Cola said the company has reached out to the county in hopes of setting up a meeting.
Do you think companies should get involved in politics? I believe it can be a slippery slope so I’m not sure what the correct course of action is. By either speaking up or not speaking up there can be a lot of public pressure put on them. Do you think the county is justified in its actions? I’m not sure on this either. I mean if one has a right to speak up then maybe the other does as well. But the county represents the people so that complicates the situation as well. What I can say though is I would be very upset if I worked in one of these country buildings and could no longer get a Diet Coke.
