NBA players, its teams, and the league itself have been vocal about getting more people to vote at the 2020 presidential election.
From players using their platform to encourage fans to register and vote to team owners allowing NBA arenas to be used as early voting sites, voting centers, and ballot drop-off locations, the league has used different ways to encourage people to cast their ballots.
The result has been successful, with 20 NBA arenas being used as polling places and the league reporting that 96% of NBA players are registered to vote, a huge improvement from just 22% back in 2016.
Players have continued to make their voices heard on election day, such as warning people against misinformation to pointing out poor practices at voting centers. One player who also used his platform to bring to light these poor practices is reigning Rookie of the Year Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies.
The 21-year old Morant quoted the same tweet that was also noticed by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James showing a woman in New York City who was denied her right to vote and not allowed to enter the polling place despite arriving on time and waiting in line for more than 20 minutes.
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) November 3, 2020
In the video, a man states that the woman arrived at the voting center on time, but was not allowed entry because it was four in the afternoon, even though she arrived and waited there at an earlier time. The woman tries to enter the polling place, but two men close the door on her before she can do so.
Go Vote ‼️
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) November 3, 2020
Morant, who a few hours earlier encouraged fans and supporters to vote in a tweet, voiced his displeasure at the woman’s experience. With more and more people going out to vote on election day, players like James and Morant will likely continue to use their platforms to point out polling practices such as these, just as they have used there voices in the months leading to the election.
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