The Houston Rockets and the Harris County Clerk office announced a plan Thursday to use the team’s home arena, Toyota Center, as a presidential election voting hub in October and November.
The news comes a day after the 2020 NBA playoffs were halted due to civil unrest from the police shooting of Wisconsin Black man Jacob Blake, with many players searching for ways to better use their platform to promote change. The use of an NBA arena to facilitate voting could be seen as a positive action as players debate when (or if) to resume play.
As per the announcement, Toyota Center will be open to any registered voter in Harris County in Early Voting from Oct. 13-30 and on Election Day, Nov. 3. Voting will run seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Rockets say they are providing free parking at Toyota Center throughout the voting process, and Toyota Center will follow all U.S. public health guidelines regarding social distancing.
“On behalf of the Houston Rockets, and Toyota Center, we are honored to help serve our community by providing a safe and convenient location for Harris County voters for the upcoming Presidential election,” said Doug Hall, general manager and senior vice president of Toyota Center.
The @HoustonRockets and @HarrisVotes announce that Toyota Center will serve as a Vote Center for the 2020 election.
TC will be open to any registered voter in Harris County from Oct. 13-30 and on Election Day, Nov. 3. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) August 27, 2020
Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins said:
Our elections this November will be historic — not only because we are electing the President of the United States, but also because we must meet the challenge as a community to ensure that every Harris County voter can cast their vote safely. I’m thrilled that Toyota Center, home to our beloved Houston Rockets, will be a voting center during the Early Voting period and on Election Day.
Harris County needs more voting centers than ever before in order to accommodate record voter turnout while following strict safety protocols to keep voters and election workers safe at the polls. We’re grateful to the Rockets organization and to the Toyota Center team for stepping up to serve Harris County residents. Because of your help and that of other community partners across Harris County, no voter will have to choose between protecting their health and exercising their Constitutional right to vote this November.
In an effort to energize voting interest, the Rockets added that they are partnering with “I am a voter.,” a nonpartisan movement which aims to create a cultural shift around voting and civic engagement. More information on “I am a voter.” can be found on at iamavoter.com. Fans can also text ROCKETS to 26797 to confirm their voter registration status.
As for basketball and the fate of the 2020 playoffs, NBA players and owners are expected to have further meetings Thursday. Houston’s Game 5 of its first-round series versus Oklahoma City, which was postponed on Wednesday, has yet to be officially rescheduled.
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— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) August 27, 2020