Lakers announce Staples Center will serve as vote center for Presidential General Election

Staples Center will serve as a vote center in the upcoming Presidential General Election, the Los Angeles Lakers, Staples Center, AEG and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk announced in a press release on Saturday:

“The Lakers organization is extremely pleased to be able to partner with AEG and the County of Los Angeles to open up STAPLES Center to provide a safe and easily accessible location for people to vote,” said Jeanie Buss, Lakers Governor. “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.”

The decision to make Staples Center a vote center came after a meeting between players and team owners on Thursday, in which players advocated for owners to get more involved in the fight for racial equality in the United States. While a number of expectations were outlined before players decided to play again, converting all franchise-owned arenas in the U.S. into vote centers for the upcoming Presidential General Election was the most tangible difference teams owners could make in the immediate future.

Staples Center is one of four Los Angeles sports landmarks that will serve as vote centers for the Presidential General Election. Earlier this month, the Dodgers announced that Dodger Stadium will serve as a vote center thanks in no small part to Lakers forward LeBron James and Dodgers pitcher David Price, both of whom are part of “More Than A Vote,” a non-profit coalition of Black athletes and artists who are fighting against voter suppression in predominantly Black communities. Banc of California and The Forum will also serve as L.A. County vote centers.

Voters can cast their ballot at Staples Center beginning Friday, October 30 through Election Day on November 3, according to the press release. In addition, Staples Center will act as a Vote by Mail Drop Box location for those who prefer to drop off their voted mail-in ballot in an official drop box provided by the L.A. County Registrar’s office.

To register to vote, visit vote.gov.

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