What The Cluck: Florida Democrats Not Happy About Voter Registration Drives At Chick-fil-a

Matt Vespa | September 30, 2016 6:00 PM

Democrats love voter registration drives. In fact, both parties have utilized voter registration drives in their latest ground game operations to increase turnout, bolster voter registration advantages, or try to put states in play. In Florida, Democrats are all for activities that try and get out the vote; they’re just not too pleased that Chick-fil-a is one of the establishments that will be holding these drives (via Fox News):

Democrats in Pinellas County, Fla., are crying fowl over the supervisor of elections’ decision to hold voter registration drives at nine area Chick-fil-A locations earlier this week on National Voter Registration Day.

Susan McGrath, head of the county Democratic Executive Committee and leader of the Pinellas Stonewall Democrats, a pro-LGBT equality group, says she is all in favor of getting out the vote — just not at Chick-fil-A, the Georgia-based fast-food restaurant chain beloved for its fried chicken sandwiches and its adherence to the Southern Baptist culture of its founder by closing on Sundays. The company's CEO Dan Cathy has made multiple remarks in the past expressing a personal opposition to same-sex marriage.

According to the Tampa Bay Times and Creative Loafing, McGrath wrote a letter to Elections Supervisor Deborah Clark, who chose Chick-fil-A for the voter drives, saying: "As an elected official, you have a duty to be evenhanded and fair. Surely, you and your office staff do understand that using Chick-Fil-A as the base for voter registration activities is not only inherently unfair but overtly partisan as well. This company has a strong and well-understood history of anti-LGBT activism and is publicly associated with Republican Party values."

And a lot of people go to Chick-fil-a. Have you ever seen one that’s not totally full? Americans like this establishment. It serves great food. And that’s an opportunity to nab new voters. I hope the elections board ignores this letter. In the meantime, enjoy the chicken and don’t forget to vote Florida voters.