With Election Day right around the corner, Boardroom takes a look at how some major American sports leagues are helping fans exercise their right to vote.
We’re just days away from an incredibly consequential Election Day that’s dominated news cycles and public conversation. Over the last several years, major American sports leagues with millions of fans throughout the country have stepped up efforts to promote civic engagement and participation in a non-partisan way.
As the calendar turns over to November, here’s a look at how major American sports leagues are helping fans rock the vote and play a role in showing them how to exercise their rights.
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NFL
The NFL founded a non-partisan NFL Votes initiative in 2020 to promote and drive voter education, voter registration, and voter activation. NFL Votes had activations across stadiums in Week 8 and will continue with this weekend’s Week 9 slate. In addition, all 32 teams throughout the season have hosted events promoting civic engagement. Other efforts include:
- An NFL Votes PSA has run during games this season and on league social channels starring several players, including Washington‘s Austin Ekeler, the Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux, Miami’s Raheem Mostert, and Carolina’s Adam Thielen.
- An NFL Vota awareness campaign in the Latino community stars Carolina head coach Dave Canales, the league’s lone current Latino head coach.
- A number of NFL stadiums across the country will serve as either a voting location, a ballot drop-off site, or sites for voter registration drives.
NBA
For the third straight year, no NBA games will be played on Election Day as the league and its players encourage fans across the country to vote. All 30 teams will be in action Monday for Civic Engagement Night, amplifying resources available to fans in their respective states while sharing messaging and tools from non-partisan voting organizations. The NBA is also:
- Partnering with non-partisan civic organizations to provide details on voter registration, information, and educational resources from every team through its “Get in the Game: Vote” initiative at NBA.com/elections.
- The league participated in National Vote Early Day on Tuesday, worked with Detroit and the Pistons on a rally to promote early voting on Oct. 19, and promoted outreach on Sept. 17, which was National Voter Registration Day.
- For the first time, the NBA and NFL collaborated on an initiative focused on poll worker recruitment with Vet The Vote. The NBA also aired a voting PSA during the Finals and released a “Get in the Game: Vote” PSA starring Jaren Jackson Jr., Jaylen Brown, Malcolm Brogdon, and CJ McCollum.
- The league partnered with over 100 creators on voter education and outreach to drive participation in the upcoming election.
- A number of NBA arenas across the country will serve as either a voting location, a ballot drop-off site, or sites for voter registration drives.
MLB
Since 2020, MLB has been a part of the Civic Alliance, a non-partisan coalition of businesses united in supporting civic engagement. The Alliance organizes initiatives and events providing resources to the public ahead of Election Day.
Last year, MLB launched a partnership with Headcount — a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music and popular culture to register voters and promote participation in democracy — to register fans to vote at MLB ballparks. More than 20 of the 30 teams held registration events as part of this initiative.
Most MLB clubs host landing pages on their websites to provide registration and other resources to participate in the democratic process. On Tuesday, MLB said it would share a message on its social channel to vote on Election Day.
WNBA
The WNBA partnered with Rock The Vote, a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit and non-partisan organization, to mobilize voters across the US with an election hub focused on voter registration, registration status, and state-by-state ballot resources. During the Commissioner’s Cup in June, all 12 teams partnered with a different local non-profit organization to highlight civic engagement and reproductive health advocacy.
MLS
Leading up to National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 17, the league re-launched its “MLS Unites to Vote” program that leveraged platforms to inspire fans the the MLS community to register to vote and participate in the election. MLS is also a participant in the Civic Alliance, through which texting MLSVOTES to 26797 will allow fans to register to vote, check their status, and sign up for election reminders. Additionally, stadiums for Charlotte FC, Inter Miami CF, Seattle Sounders, and the LA Galaxy will serve as polling places on Election Day.
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