When Should CEOs Speak Out Publicly? The 2021 Georgia Voting Law

This case describes the March 2021 passage of a voting and elections law in the U.S. state of Georgia and reactions by corporations and corporate leaders to the law. Included are a brief history of voting rights in the United States and Georgia and an overview of the antecedents to the law’s passage, such as rising racial tensions following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 and the November 2020 U.S. presidential election and its aftermath. The case then relates statements and actions taken by the top executives of Georgia-based companies, such as Delta Air Airlines, Coca-Cola, and Home Depot, as well as executives across the nation. The narrative includes details about executives’ deliberations and discussions with one another on key questions: What criteria should they use to decide when to speak? What risks were they taking in speaking out on public issues? What were the benefits?