Title: How do Stakeholders Respond to Corporate Advocacy for U.S. Voting Rights?

Speaker: Da Xu, Associate Professor, Tsinghua University

Time: 10:00-11:30, May 20th, 2026 (Wednesday)

Venue: Room 1008, Mingde Business Building (Zhongguancun Campus)

Language: Chinese & English

ABSTRACT:

We study the determinants and ramifications of voting rights advocacy, i.e., firms’ initiatives to increase voter turnout in U.S. elections and to support/oppose voting-related legislation. We show that voting advocacy generally stems from value-increasing motives (e.g., to build political capital, meet employee expectations, and avoid alienating stakeholders), rather than from agency costs. Stakeholders respond positively to advocacy behaviors, as evidenced by higher market returns around Presidential elections, preferential government treatment, and greater employee satisfaction. Notably, voting advocacy is positively related to voter turnout and the enactment of voting-related legislation, highlighting corporations’ role in facilitating a well-functioning democracy.