Washington, DC, Residents will be able to Vote, at Nationals Park, in November's General Election, the Washington Nationals announced on Monday August 24th.
The Stadium, which has been Closed to Baseball Fans, this Season due to Coronavirus, will be One of roughly 80 Polling Centers in Washington.
It joins Capital One Arena, the Home of the Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics, which announced it will also be a Polling Place earlier this month.
"Nationals Park is a civic asset and the Nationals will always work to ensure that it can be utilized in service to the community in as many ways as possible," Mark D. Lerner, Washington Nationals, Managing Principal Owner, said in a Statement.
The Stadium has previously served as a Community Kitchen for Celebrity Chef, José Andrés's Nonprofit, World Central Kitchen, to provide Meals during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
"Since this past spring, we have hosted World Central Kitchen to help feed members of the DMV community who were in need. This fall, we can help make sure one of our most important civic responsibilities can be completed as seamlessly and safely as possible. We are thrilled to help alleviate some of the challenges associated with voting during a pandemic and support the Board of Elections by opening Nationals Park as an election site," Lerner said.
D.C. Mayor, Muriel Bowser, originally called for All 144 regular Polling Places to Open, but due to a Shortage of Poll Workers and concerns over Social Distancing, she Proposed opening 80 Polling Places at Larger Venues, like Stadiums.
A Group of Professional Sports Franchises have joined together and are offering up their iconic Venues to Voters to: Reducing Lines, Wait-Times, and other Potential Obstacles to Casting Ballots in the 2020 Election.
The “Election Super Center Project” is a Nonpartisan Initiative formed by the National Vote at Home Institute and Silver Linings Group, Two Voting Rights Groups. In an August 14th Press Release, the Project detailed its Work with the National Basketball Association, National Football League, and National Hockey League, to ensure that Team Stadiums and Arenas allow for “convenient voter access.”
So far, the Teams participating are: Dallas Mavericks; Golden State Warriors; Indiana Pacers; Los Angeles Clippers; Milwaukee Bucks; New Jersey Devils; Pittsburgh Penguins; Pittsburgh Steelers; Washington Capitals; and Washington Wizards.
According to the Release, the Venues will adhere to CDC Guidelines in order to help Limit the Spread of COVID-19 during Socially Distanced Voting.
“Having additional venues available that are large enough to ensure ample social distancing with extensive health and safety protocols in place is important during this unprecedented time,” said Doc Rivers, Head Coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. “These supplemental venues ensure people can exercise their right to vote. We will continue to work hard off the court to secure as many large arena and venues as possible.” Rivers said.
Along with other Black Athletes and Entertainers, Basketball Legend, LeBron James, formed a Voting Rights Group this past Spring to push for Mega Voting Sites to Accommodate In-Person Balloting amid the Pandemic. Called “More Than A Vote,” James’ Nonprofit Organization is a Dedicated Coalition of Black Athletes and Artists working together to Educate, Energize, and Protect Young Communities of Color by Fighting Systemic Voter Suppression.
The Group shared its Plans in July after the Detroit Pistons became the Second NBA Franchise to announce Plans to use its Arena for Voting. In Georgia, Fulton County Elections officials Approved the Atlanta Hawks’ Proposal to use State Farm Arena as a Polling Site. Plans call for the Arena to Serve as a Countywide Early Voting Site ahead of Election Day.
James’ Organization is also working with Los Angeles Dodgers to Transform the Franchise’s Dodger Stadium into a Voter Center this November. “We are all in this together,” James said in a Statement. “This is exactly why we created More Than a Vote. A lot of us now working together and here for every team who wants to follow the Dodgers lead and turn their stadium into a safer place for voting.”
The Venues for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and NBA’s Charlotte Hornets will also be used as Early In-Person Voting Sites this Fall in North Carolina. The Mecklenburg County Board of Elections Agreed to a List of 33 Early-Voting Sites that include Bank of America Stadium and Spectrum Center.
Mecklenburg Election Officials, who Approved the Early-Vote Plan, expect Heavy use of Early Voting Options by County Residents, either for Mail-in Absentee Ballots or In-Person Voting, before Election Day on Nov. 3rd.
Large Facilities with Multiple Entrances are considered Desirable to Avoid Crowds. Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte also is on the List of Approved Sites.
Polling Site Details still need to be Worked Out.
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