Following the boycott of the NBA playoff games in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting, the NBA players “agreed to resume the season with the understanding that the league and team owners will take actions that will lead to meaningful change. On Friday, the NBA and NBPA announced a three-point plan to promote social justice and racial equality, which includes converting NBA arenas into voting centers for the 2020 presidential election. The NBA playoffs will resume on Saturday in Orlando.”
- 1. The NBA and its players have agreed to immediately establish a social justice coalition, with representatives from players, coaches and governors, that will be focused on a broad range of issues, including increasing access to voting, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for meaningful police and criminal justice reform.
- 2. In every city where the league franchise owns and controls the arena property, team governors will continue to work with local election officials to convert the facility into a voting location for the 2020 general election to allow for a safe in-person voting option for communities vulnerable to COVID. If a deadline has passed, team governors will work with local elections officials to find another election-related use for the facility, including but not limited to voter registration and ballot receiving boards.
- 3. The league will work with the players and our network partners to create and include advertising spots in each NBA playoff game dedicated to promoting greater civic engagement in national and local elections and raising awareness around voter access and opportunity.”
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has partnered with the Los Angeles Dodgers to turn Dodger Stadium into a polling station for the upcoming presidential election in November. James’ voting-rights group, More Than a Vote, has teamed with the organization to create the first-ever polling place at an MLB stadium, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
James has been an outspoken voice on several political and social issues in recent years and this latest initiative is part of his efforts to fight back against voter suppression. Since starting More Than a Vote, James has recruited other prominent athletes to join the initiative — including Dodgers pitcher David Price, who worked to help bring this latest project to fruition.
The polling center at Dodger Stadium will be open for five days leading up the November 3 election. Registered voters in Los Angeles will be eligible to park and vote at the stadium.
