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Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans announced on Tuesday that the Smoothie King Center will provide early voting next month ahead of the 2020 general election, the 21st arena in the NBA to serve as an early-voting polling location.
The announcement came as the NBA, as part of National Voter Registration Day, launched a new online resource hub highlighting leaguewide efforts around voting and civic engagement and connecting fans with non-partisan voting and Census completion resources.
Citizens in New Orleans can stop by the Smoothie King Center from Oct. 16-27 to cast their vote before Election Day in a safe and socially-distanced environment.
I hear you guys all of the time in the Smoothie King Center where it’s loud. There is a more important way for your voice to be heard: Voting. From Oct. 16-27, early voting will take place all across the state. To accommodate voters in a safe and socially-distanced environment, Orleans Parish will provide early voting at the Smoothie King Center from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
A message from @ZionWilliamson on #NationalVoterRegistrationDay!
From Oct. 16 – 27, Orleans Parish will provide early voting at the @SmoothieKingCtr (From 8 am – 7 pm each day)
Text "Pelicans" to 26797 to register and receive election reminders! pic.twitter.com/jum4o5pIaV
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) September 22, 2020
Team governors, coaches and players met last month to discuss additional ways to help raise awareness for key issues and promote social equality in the United States. The league together with the players will work to enact several commitments and initiatives, including early voting.
The plan set forth by the NBA and NBPA included a commitment that team governors will work with local elections officials to convert arenas into voting locations to allow for a safe in-person voting option for communities to vulnerabilities to COVID.
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said last month that the NBA worked to get each player at the Walt Disney World Resort registered to vote on site. Rivers said that only 20% of players were registered to vote in the last election and they wanted to help raise that number this year.
NBPA president Chris Paul said previously that putting a plan into place regarding voting was a key issue that players wanted to address. The players have helped raise awareness for early voting and that has resulted in increased engagement around the U.S.
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