NRF Gets Out the Vote

Following the first presidential debate on Oct. 3, the National Retail Federation (NRF) has introduced a grass-roots get-out-the-vote initiative, “Retail Means Votes.” The nonpartisan initiative aims to motivate the U.S. retail industry to take an active role in the election process.

“With an election largely centered on the economy and jobs, it’s important to make sure America’s 3.6 million retailers and their employees know what’s at stake for the industry,” noted Matthew Shay, president and CEO of Washington, D.C.-based NRF. “Retail supports one in four American jobs, generates a quarter of GDP, and is at the foundation of the consumer-based economy.”

Continued Shay: “Retail Means Votes seeks to increase the retail industry’s presence and participation on the campaign trail, and beyond. It is one piece of NRF’s efforts to frame the national debate around retail’s pro-jobs, pro-growth agenda, and drive candidates’ attention to the retail industry’s public policy priorities and their effect on the economy.”

A dedicated website will offer a range of voter tools and resources, including candidate biographies, links to campaign websites, the latest election-related news, and information on how to register to vote, apply for an absentee ballot or locate a polling site; nonpartisan voter guides that compare presidential and U.S. Senate candidates’ positions on six major retail issues: health care, labor, sales tax fairness, swipe fees, tax reform and trade; key vote tallies, and suggested questions that retailers can ask candidates during debates, town hall meetings and other campaign events.

“These resources will equip retailers and their employees with a firm understanding of retail’s public policy priorities -- be it combating micro-unions, fighting for sales tax fairness, or reducing swipe fees -- and help put the election into context,” observed Shay. ”Our goal for Retail Means Votes is simple: We want candidates to know where the retail industry stands on the critical issues of the day, and we want voters to be thinking about retail’s agenda and priorities on Election Day.”