The San Francisco Forty-Niners announced Tuesday an agreement to make Levi's Stadium a polling place for the Nov. 3 election as part of the NFL Votes initiative to increase voter awareness and participation.
Pam Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press.
So the San Francisco Forty-Niners, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, among others, are looking for a safe and easily accessible place for residents to participate in early or in-person voting on Election Day.
Thus, the atrium of the stadium's SAP Tower will be open for early voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time on Oct. 31 through Election Day, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with free parking on Great America Parkway.
"Our partnership with Levi's Stadium and the Forty-Niners is yet another touchdown for democracy," said Alex Padilla, making the precinct one of 100 polling places in Santa Clara County, along with 98 polling locations.
"The addition of socially distancing voting venues is critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to be inspired by the sports venues that opened their doors to new and secure voting options this year and hope it inspires other teams to follow suit," he added.
For her part, Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey explained that Levi's Stadium offers an airy environment with plenty of room for social distancing. "We will follow all recommended protocols to minimize contact and make voting as safe as possible for those who choose to cast their ballot in person."
It is worth noting that last month, on the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the San Francisco Forty-Niners joined with the National Football League (NFL) to launch the nonpartisan NFL Votes initiative, which supports and encourages players' voting efforts and civic participation.
While in June, the 49ers announced that Nov. 3 would be recognized as a company holiday to ensure that all employees have the opportunity to vote, in addition to volunteering at a polling place.
"While 2020 has been a challenging year on many fronts, I am sincerely encouraged by the increased dialogue and action among our staff that I have seen as a result of these difficult times," said Jed York, executive director of the San Francisco Forty-Niners.
"We want to do everything we can to empower the community and our employees to make their voices heard at the ballot box. We thank our partners in this initiative and the NFL for prioritizing this message across the country," he added.
In addition to participating in league-supported voter education sessions, for several years San Francisco Forty-Niners players and staff have run ads promoting voter registration, voting and the 2020 census.
The designation of the stadium as a polling place builds on a series of investments that Levi-Strauss & Co. (LS & Co) has made to improve access to the polls and engage voters in the democratic process before, during and after Election Day.
This year, LS & Co is advocating for safe and accessible ways to vote in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and in conjunction with its foundation is working to grant $2.6 million to more than 20 organizations that promote voting rights and participation.
