Secretaries of state are the chief election officials in most states, overseeing voting on races and ballot initiatives. “With so many important issues being decided through ballot initiatives (increases in the minimum wage, gay marriage, environmental protections, etc. “I don’t want that listed anywhere since it is a sensitive topic for some secretaries,” Ms. Keech wrote in the email. With billions at stake, major corporations routinely hire consulting firms to help them influence ballot initiatives. Ellie Hockenbury, a spokeswoman for the Republican State Leadership Committee, said the meetings and other conversations with donors were simply informational.

Source: New York Times November 04, 2016 09:30 UTC