Almost 40,000 Atlanta residents cast a ballot at the home arena of the NBA’s Hawks franchise.
More than 298,000 people cast a ballot at professional sports stadiums and arenas during the 2020 general election, according to voter turnout data compiled by USA TODAY, highlighting just how significant these venues were in a presidential election which was decided by razor-thin margins in some swing states. In late August, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, NBA players refused to play multiple playoff games. After superstars LeBron James and Chris Paul requested guidance from former president Barack Obama, the league’s players demanded tangible action to address systemic racism within the United States in order to return to the court and complete the postseason. NBA owners ultimately agreed to work with local elections officials to convert team-owned facilities into voting locations for the 2020 general election.
