LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The LA Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Sparks, STAPLES Center, AEG and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk have announced that STAPLES Center will expand its commitment to serve as a Vote Center in the upcoming Presidential General Election to 11 days, the maximum number of days the County will facilitate in-person voting. Voters can cast their ballots at STAPLES Center beginning Saturday, October 24 through Election Day, November 3. STAPLES Center also serves as a Vote by Mail Drop Box location for those who prefer to drop off their completed ballots in official, secure drop boxes provided by the L.A. County Registrar's office.
“It is a great honor for the LA Kings to collaborate with our friends at the Lakers and Sparks,” said Kelly Cheeseman, Chief Operating Officer, LA Kings and AEG Sports. “We all can play a significant role in our community at our iconic home which will serve as an official Vote Center for the upcoming Presidential General Election. We feel strongly in the right to vote and we wanted to do our part to make the process as easy and smooth as possible. With STAPLES Center and AEG helping lead the effort, we will help shape the future and empower our fellow Angelenos to actively participate in the voting process.”
The STAPLES Center Vote Center is also supported by More Than A Vote, the National voting advocacy group founded by Black athletes and artists, including Lebron James, dedicated to combating systemic, racist voter suppression by educating, energizing, and protecting their community in 2020.
“More Than A Vote believes that every citizen should have access to a safe and convenient voting option, so we’re incredibly proud to team up with the Sparks, Lakers, and Kings to provide voters in LA County with 11 days to cast their ballots at Staples Center,” said More Than A Vote Executive Director Addisu Demissie. “The level of collaboration between the teams and election administrators demonstrates what we can accomplish to provide a civic good in a moment of crisis.”
“The 2020 WNBA season was dedicated to social justice and the importance of voting as a means to create change,” said Danita Johnson, President & COO, LA Sparks. “The Sparks are honored to partner with AEG, Staples Center, the Kings and Lakers to help provide LA voters with an additional venue and dates to vote and have their voices be heard.”
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla commented, “The LA Kings have been one of our most dependable partners in supporting our efforts to get Californians registered and ready to vote. This year the Kings and AEG are going above and beyond by providing 11 days of early voting at Staples Center. Early voting will be essential for a smooth election this year. I am asking any Californian who can vote early to do so this fall. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to avoid long lines and over-crowding at the polls. If more citizens vote early we can create a smoother voting experience through election day.”
The STAPLES Center Vote Center will be open to the public beginning Saturday, October 24. The location will be available to registered voters who live in the County of Los Angeles October 24 – November 2 from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm and, on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, from 7:00 am – 8:00 pm.
Residents of the County of Los Angeles who are not registered to vote may visit the STAPLES Center Vote Center to conditionally register and cast a provisional ballot during hours of operation. Those who prefer to fill out the ballot they received in their home and deposit it in an official drop box supported by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office can do so at STAPLES Center October 24 – November 3.
