Secretary of State Kim Wyman has joined Starbucks and business and non-profit leaders and voter groups in helping launch a nationwide project to encourage employees to register, vote and engage themselves in their communities.

The project is being organized by the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

Wyman has been in conversation with Starbucks corporate leaders in Seattle about ways to enhance voter participation. The company is among the organizing sponsors. Marriott International, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and others have joined the effort, as have BPC leaders from both parties and election leaders, including Secretary Wyman.

The project is providing guiding principles for participating organizations and technical support to connect organizations with local election administrators.

The national media kit includes this quote from Wyman, the only Secretary or election administrator quoted:

“The election officials of America should welcome the creative, powerful and forward-looking strategies the Bipartisan Policy Center is launching,” said Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who has spent most of her adult life in election administration and working on reforms at the county, state and national level. “It is the job of all of us to work tirelessly to remove barriers, promote civility, and encourage people to vote and get engaged in democracy. We are a better nation when that happens. We desperately need better civic dialogue and involvement by each and every qualified voter.”