The Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles will be turned into a vote center for the November election.
With an agreement in place, voters will be able to cast ballots at Staples Center starting in late October through Election Day, Nov. 3, the Los Angeles Lakers, AEG and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk said Friday in a press release.
The facility, which is home to the Los Angeles Lakers, will also act as a vote-by-mail drop off location for those who prefer to hand deliver their completed mail-in ballots.
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The decision to convert Staples Center and other NBA arenas into voting sites was part of a deal to end the boycott of playoff games over racial injustice by NBA players.
“For our democracy to function, all citizens need to be able to vote in a secure and safe way – and we’re very happy to be able to play our part in ensuring that they can,” said Lakers governor Jeanie Buss.
The Los Angeles Clippers announced that the Forum in Inglewood will be used as a vote center as well.
“As part of our commitment to fighting voter suppression and empowering all citizens to determine meaningful progress, the Forum will serve as an official Vote Center where voters can vote in person or drop off mail-in ballots for the 2020 election,” the Clippers said in a statement.
Several other NBA teams have also offered to turn their facilities into polling places, according to published reports. Those teams include the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks.
