You may have noticed in the recent days that NBA teams, such as your Boston Celtics, have been wearing different warmup shirts than usual. Instead, their shirts have shared one single message – VOTE.
It’s Election Day and in preparation, the NBA has taken several steps to support us in practicing our civic duty. There will be no NBA games played today with every team in the league playing yesterday to ensure that voters will have time to go out to their local polling location without basketball as a distraction. Additionally, NBA.com has assembled a list of relevant resources to help voters understand when, how, and where they can become eligible, and ultimately cast their ballots.
That information can be found here: https://www.nba.com/elections
Who is eligible to vote?
Like most things, this can vary from state to state. In general, the basic requirements to be an eligible voter require you to be a U.S. citizen who is 18 years or older on or before Election Day. You must also be registered to vote in the state which you reside in. For more information on voter eligibility, please refer to the information laid out here: https://www.usa.gov/who-can-vote
What if I’m not registered yet?
In many states, the deadline to register to vote has already passed. However, certain states do allow same-day voter registration. To find out if your state participates, you can refer to the following graphic, and find more information here: https://www.voteamerica.org/same-day-registration/
Not sure if you’re already registered? By following this link, you can find resources to check your registration status: https://whenweallvote.org/verify-registration/
Still need to register? This link will help you to find the resources needed to do just that: https://whenweallvote.org/register/
What do I need to cast my ballot?
Again, this is something that can vary from state to state. Some states have a “Strict Voter ID Law” which requires voters to identify themselves with an acceptable ID when they vote in person. Others have a “Non-Strict Voter ID Law” which gives voters alternative options to cast their ballot if they do not have an acceptable ID. There are also some states which do not require any form of ID to vote in person. To find out more about your state’s laws, you can refer to the following website: https://www.voteriders.org/staterules/
Where can I go to vote?
If you plan to vote in person, make sure you know where to find your official polling place. To do so, you can use this resource provided by Vote.org: https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/
What’s on the ballot?
The big thing on the ballot this year is obviously the Presidential Election, but that’s far from the only thing. You may also find that your local or state representatives are up for election, such as senators and congressmen. You may also find local or state propositions which can affect you and your community directly. To find out more about what specifically is on your ballot, you can refer to the following link: https://www.vote.org/ballot-information/
Why should I vote?
Voting is considered one of, if not the most important right for American citizens. It may sound cliché, but it is your civic duty. The leaders you elect are given the ability and the responsibility to make decisions that affect your daily life, as well as that of your friends, family, favorite players, fellow fans – all of us. Your vote is your future. Your vote is your voice. Use it.
Additional Resources:
Voting 101: https://whenweallvote.org/voting101/
Know your voting rights: https://whenweallvote.org/voting101/votingrights/
Celtics Civic Engagement Efforts: https://www.nba.com/celtics/community/take-action
NBA VOTE PSA: https://www.nba.com/watch/video/get-in-the-game-vote-with-the-nba-and-wnba?plsrc=nba&collection=get-in-the-game-vote-psa
