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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGA-SEN: Atlanta Hawks and Falcons team up to open early voting site for key Georgia runoff
Turning the Atlanta Hawks arena into an early voting site for the Nov. 3 general election was so well-received by voters, the organization is doing it again from Dec. 14-19 for the key runoff elections in Georgia that will determine both of the states seats in the U.S. Senate.
Because the NBA season is starting on Dec. 22, the Hawks have teamed up with the Atlanta Falcons to move early voting to Mercedes-Benz Stadium next door for the final seven days that voters can cast early ballots from Dec. 22-30 (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) prior to the Jan. 5 election.
Out of 524,659 votes cast for president in Fulton County, the states largest, more than 40,000 came through State Farm Arena. In the state of Georgia, early votes can be cast at any location in the county where the voter is registered.
The Hawks making their facility available contributed to a significant boost in voter turnout during the general election, with roughly 851,000 more votes cast in the state than in the 2016 presidential election.
President-elect Joe Biden won Georgias 16 electoral votes by 12,670 over President Trump.
We are proud of the experience that weve been able to offer Fulton County voters in these important elections, Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said in a release. Voting is an important civic duty and as a business that represents this city, it has been a pleasure to give back in such an incredibly meaningful way.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2020/11/23/atlanta-hawks-falcons-early-voting-senate-runoff-elections/6397403002/
Indykatie
(3,696 posts)There were other cities that offered up their stadiums for voting sites but I think Atlanta may have had a bigger impact than any of them. GA had one of the highest increases in young voters and this improved access was probably a big factor.
Wednesdays
(17,342 posts)crickets
(25,962 posts)Elwood P Dowd
(11,443 posts)about this before the 2022 elections. They get their cookies off killing anything that might increase voter participation.