MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL Bolster Voting Process With Election Super Centers Project
Friday, August 14, 2020 at 03:31PM By Barry Janoff
August 14, 2020: Major sports leagues in the U.S. are joining together to help raise awareness for and ease the process to register and vote in upcoming elections.
Teams from MLB, the NBA, NHL and NFL intend make their arenas and stadiums available as Election Super Centers this year working with the Election Super Centers Project, a non-partisan, joint initiative of the National Vote at Home Institute and Silver Linings Group.
The plan is to to help teams, arena owners and operators work with election officials to “open large venues as polling sites in 2020 as supplemental voting and registration centers.”
Teams and arenas already involved include the Los Angeles Clippers (and The LA Forum), Washington Wizards, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Boston Red Sox, New Jersey Devils, Dallas Mavericks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.
The Election Super Centers Project said it is working with more than a dozen pro teams and arenas and expects to expand this number to2 5 in the coming weeks.
The Election Super Centers Project is chaired by filmmaker and public policy advocate Eugene Jarecki and Amber McReynolds, CEO for the National Vote at Home Institute.
"Our mission is not only to help large-scale venues offer thousands, even millions, of voters greater poll access this year but to ensure that their voting experience meets the highest standards of safety, security, and election integrity,” Jarecki said via the organization.
Several NBA teams have already plans to make their venues available as registration and early voting sites, working in cooperation with More Than A Vote, founded by LeBron James and other athletes and celebrities,
They include the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks.
Dodger Stadium, home to the Los Angeles Dodgers, has become the first MLB stadium be named a voting destination, which will be available for any registered voter in Los Angeles Country for five days leading up to the Nov. 3 general election, offering free parking, also via an alliance with More Than A Vote.
This month, the NFL launched “NFL Votes,” a league-wide, non-partisan initiative that will “support and encourage the civic engagement and voting of NFL players, Legends, club and league personnel, and NFL fans from now until Election Day.”
Partners include Rock the Vote, Rise to Vote and I Am A Voter, non-profit, non-partisan organizations dedicated to raising awareness for and reducing barriers to voting.
George Linardos, CEO for Learfield/IMG College, said plans are also in progress to help universities, colleges and community colleges open venues for registration and early voting.
In addition, the Project said it has entered into preliminary conversations with several other large-scale venues outside the sports world, “wherever the use of such facilities can take pressure off existing election infrastructure.”
Project members include Doc Rivers (head coach for the Clippers), John Legend, and Chuck D.
"My team has been coordinating with election officials to open the LA Forum for early voting and on Nov. 3,” Rivers said via the Election Super Centers Project “It's been reassuring to learn how meticulous their planning process is.
“Our spaces will be large enough to keep lines moving even with ample social distancing. There are extensive health and safety protocols in place. We're ready for voters no matter what 2020 brings."
Dodger Stadium To Become A Voting Destination For Upcoming Election
NFL Launches 'NFL Votes' To Encourage Participation
Kings Join NBA Teams Offering Venues For Voting
NBA Atlanta’s State Farm Arena Now A Voting Destination
NBA Pistons, Bucks Seek To Support Voting, Registration
Back to Home Page