Delta Airlines has joined Georgia-based corporations including Coca-Cola and Porsche in publicly criticizing a new voting bill after pressure from activists who say it will unfairly restrict voting rights in the state.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian labeled the new legislation 'unacceptable' and said it was 'based on a lie' that the 2020 presidential election had been stolen.

'The entire rationale for this bill was based on a lie: that there was widespread voter fraud in Georgia. This is simply not true,' Bastian wrote in a memo to the airline's 80,000 employees.

'I need to make it crystal clear that the final bill is unacceptable and does not match Delta's values.'

But Bastian's statement drew a swift rebuke from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

'Today's statement by Delta CEO Ed Bastian stands in stark contrast to our conversations with the company, ignores the content of the new law, and unfortunately continues to spread the same false attacks being repeated by partisan activists,' Governor Kemp said.

Coca-Cola

President of North America Alfredo Rivera said the soft drink giant disappointed by the law.

'As soon as Georgia's legislature convened this year, our company joined with other Georgia businesses to share our core principles: We opposed measures that would seek to diminish or restrict voter access and we advocated for broad access, voter convenience, election integrity and political neutrality.

'Anything that inhibits these principles can lead to voter suppression. We took these steps because they align to our Purpose and the conscience we follow,' he said.

United Parcel Service

The postal and logistics firm said this week it supports the ability and facilitation of all eligible voters to exercise their right to vote.

'Like other businesses in the community, we actively engaged with political leaders in both parties and other stakeholders to advocate for more equitable access to the polls and for integrity in the election process across the state.

'We echo the statement by the Metro Atlanta Chamber and stand ready to continue to help in ensuring every Georgia voter has the ability to vote,' the company said.

Porsche

The car giant, whose North American operations are headquartered in Georgia, issued a statement saying that 'equal access to the polls for every voter is core to a democracy.'

'As an Atlanta-based business, Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) supported the work of the Metro Atlanta Chamber with members of the Georgia General Assembly to maximize voter participation and ensure election integrity.

'We understand the legislative outcome remains subject to debate and hope a resolution can be found between all sides that encourages and enables every eligible vote,' the company said.

Home Depot

The DIY Big Box store has been less strident in its public statements on the bill so far.

'We believe that all elections should be accessible, fair and secure and support broad voter participation,' Home Depot spokesperson Sara Gorman said last week.

'We'll continue to work to ensure our associates, both in Georgia and across the country, have the information and resources to vote.'

Kemp drew fierce protests last week after signing into law a sweeping Republican-sponsored overhaul of state elections that includes new some restrictions on voting by mail and greater legislative control over how elections are run, but also expanded early weekend voting.

It is one of a wave of GOP-backed election bills introduced in states around the country after former President Donald Trump stoked false claims that fraud led to his 2020 election defeat.

Critics have slammed the laws as a new 'Jim Crow' era, claiming that they disproportionately affect minority communities - charges the governor has strongly denied.

Major sporting events in the state are now coming under pressure to boycott the state entirely and move elsewhere.

The participants of the annual All-Star Game which was scheduled to be played in Atlanta in July are said to be open to discussing a change in venues, according to a report in the Boston Globe.

Even The Master's, the most prestigious tournament in golf held every year at Augusta, has come under pressure to shift out of Georgia from civil rights activists.Responding to Delta's statement, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison Tweeted: 'Ok @Delta you changed your tune... good! Next step, let's move the words into action. What will you do to address this issue?'

Jemele Hill a former ESPN host who now writes for The Atlantic, Tweeted: 'Proof that shame works. You can't 'both sides' s*** that's wrong. @Delta and other companies have an obligation to stop financially supporting people/parties who undermine democracy. Words aren't enough. Get in the fight and mean it.'

However, Conservative talk show host Jason Rantz said the airline had succumbed to liberal pressure.

'Try flying on Delta without an ID. Then ask Delta's CEO if he backs voter ID laws. This is corporate virtue signaling. They do it because progressives feign outrage & threaten boycotts. Conservatives don't. So Delta placates the group that could do them financial harm.'

Delta Air Lines had initially issued a statement touting some parts of the law, such as expanded weekend voting, but said 'we understand concerns remain over other provisions in the legislation and there continues to be work ahead in this important effort.'

But Bastian spoke more forcefully in Wednesday's memo to employees.

He emphasized, 'I need to make it crystal clear that the final bill is unacceptable and does not match Delta´s values.'

Delta's move comes after other corporations headquartered in the state issued statements condemning the voting bill.

Coca-Cola and United Parcel Service, whose companies are headquartered in the state, both came out against the voting rights bill with sharply-worded statements.

Porsche, whose North American headquarters is in Atlanta, also spoke out, as did pharmaceutical giant Merck and global asset manager Blackrock and Mercedes-Benz.

Coca-Cola, Delta, and Home Depot told previously Bloomberg that they asked Georgia lawmakers to remove some of the more extreme measures called for in the legislation.

Home Depot released a statement last week saying that the company 'supports candidates on both sides of the aisle who champion pro-business, pro-retail positions that create jobs and economic growth.'

Coca-Cola said that while the bill was being debated, the company was 'active with the Metro Atlanta Chamber in expressing our concerns and advocating for positive change in voting legislation.

'We, along with our business coalition partners, sought improvements that would enhance accessibility, maximize voter participation, maintain election integrity and serve all Georgians.'

Civil Rights groups including The National Black Justice Coalition have argued that golfers should refuse to play at the Masters, held annually at Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia, unless the law is repealed.

'The PGA Tour and Masters Tournament have both made commitments to help diversify golf and address racial inequities in this country – and we expect them to not only speak out against Georgia's new racist voter suppression law – but to also take action,' the statement read.

Democratic senator Raphael Warnock was asked about calls by local activists to boycott Atlanta-based firms like the Coca-Cola Company, Home Depot, UPS, Arbys, and Delta Airlines on CNN on Sunday.

When asked if he thought boycotts 'should be on the table,' Warnock told CNN on Sunday: 'I think we all have to use our voices...I've seen these corporations falling over themselves every year around the time of the [Martin Luther] King holiday, celebrating Dr. King and yes, I think that the way to celebrate Dr. King is to stand up for what he represented, voting rights.'

The sweeping rewrite of Georgia's election rules, signed into law in late March by Republican Governor Brian Kemp, makes numerous changes to how elections will be administered, including a new photo ID requirement for voting absentee by mail.

Republican supporters say the law is needed to restore confidence in Georgia's elections. Democrats say it will restrict voting access, especially for voters of color. Here's a look at some of the top issues:

The State Election Board can now take over local election offices and replace officials

Much of the work administering elections in Georgia is handled by the state's 159 counties. The law gives the State Election Board new powers to intervene in county election offices and to remove and replace local election officials. That has led to concerns that the Republican-controlled state board could exert more influence over the administration of elections, including the certification of county results.

One target for intervention could be Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold that contains most of Atlanta. The heavily-populated county has been plagued by problems, including long lines, and it is often singled out by Republican officials. Under the law, the board could intervene in up to four counties at a time and install a temporary superintendent with the ability to hire and fire personnel including elections directors and poll officers.

Anyone handing out snacks or water to voters in line can be prosecuted

The new law makes it a misdemeanor for 'any person give, offer to give, or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink' to anyone standing in line to vote. The prohibition extends 150 feet from a polling place and 25 feet from any person standing in line.

Advocates of the law say they are attempting to crack down on political organizations or advocacy groups trying to influence voters just before they cast a ballot. Critics say it's cruel and would penalize even nonpartisan groups or individuals for something as simple as giving water to someone waiting in a long line. Democratic state Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler slammed the proposal Thursday before the bill was signed into law, saying: 'They want to make it a crime to bring Grandma some water while she's waiting in line.'

Georgia lawmakers argue that polling places would be able to, but not required to, set up self-serve water dispensers for voters.

Some defenders of the law, including Tucker Carlson, have claimed that the prohibition on handing out water only covers political organizations - which is the law in Montana.

But the Georgia law specifically says 'any person' - and could include friends and family of voters in line.

Early weekend voting has been expanded, rather than restricted

Republicans had proposed at one time to limit early voting on weekends, a time when many black churches conduct 'souls to the polls' efforts to take congregants to vote. But Republicans reversed themselves, and the measure now expands weekend early voting. Previously, one day of weekend voting was required, with counties given the option of offering more. Now two Saturdays will be required, and counties can offer two Sunday voting days as well. Republicans point to this provision to argue they are actually expanding, rather than restricting, voting access.

'Contrary to the hyper-partisan rhetoric you may have heard inside and outside this gold dome, the facts are that this new law will expand voting access in the Peach State,' Kemp said Thursday.

Georgia's runoff races will be shortened

Georgia is the only state in the nation that mandates runoff elections between the top two finishers following general elections in which no candidate achieves a majority. Like some other states, Georgia also mandates runoffs for candidates who do not win a majority in a party primary.

The system came under scrutiny from Republicans after Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won twin runoffs in January.

The new law shortens the time for runoffs from nine weeks to four, with lawmakers saying the current span is 'exhausting' and needs to be shortened to a 'more manageable period.'

Military and overseas voters will use ranked-choice absentee ballots to rank all possible candidates before a primary or general election, allowing their preferences to be determined in any possible runoff. Georgia only had three weeks before runoffs until 2013, when a federal judge ordered a longer gap to give military and overseas voters more time to return ballots.

The shorter period means less time for early and mail voting. Early voting had lasted three weeks before runoffs. Now early voting would begin 'as soon as possible' but no later than the second Monday before the election, possibly leaving as little as five weekdays and no weekend days of early voting. Voters would also have less time to apply for a mail ballot.

No new voters could be registered in the period before a runoff because the registration deadline would be the day before the earlier election.

Opponents vow to keep fighting the new laws

Three groups filed a lawsuit late Thursday to try to block the law. The New Georgia Project, Black Voters Matter and Rise Inc. say the law violates the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, as well as parts of the federal Voting Rights Act that say states cannot restrict Black voter participation.

'These unjustified measures will individually and cumulatively operate to impose unconstitutional burdens on the right to vote, to deny or abridge the voting rights of Black Georgians, and to deny Black voters in Georgia an equal opportunity to participate in the electoral process and elect candidates of their choice,' says the lawsuit, which is filed against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Georgia's State Elections Board.

Opponents are also looking to Congress, which is considering nationwide voting standards. A Democratic-backed measure passed the House earlier this month, but faces opposition from Senate Republicans wary of a federal takeover of state elections.

The federal proposal would create automatic voter registration nationwide, allow former felons to vote, and limit the ways states can remove registered voters from their rolls. It would expand voting by mail, promote early voting and give states money to track absentee ballots.