Yahoo Finance Chris Paul: More than 90 percent of the league is now registered to vote
Players and coaches in the NBA — and elsewhere in the sports world — have been pushing for people to both register and actually vote this fall in recent weeks.
NBPA president Chris Paul revealed a major milestone in those internal efforts during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night.
Nearly every player in the league is now registered to vote.
15 NBA teams are completely registered to vote
Paul, speaking on ESPN during the Miami Heat’s 115-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 on Sunday night, revealed that “over 90 percent” of the league is now registered to vote.
Fifteen teams are completely registered, too.
Chris Paul, president of @TheNBPA, announces that "over 90 percent" of the league is registered to vote and 15 NBA teams are 100 percent registered. pic.twitter.com/pL9ejKxXq3
— The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) October 5, 2020
“I’m so proud of our guys because I’m proud to announce that we have over 90 percent of our league registered to vote,” Paul said. “15 teams are 100 percent registered, and the jobs that guys have been doing just to be a little bit more educated on the situation and getting people out, recruiting poll workers and things like that, the bubble has been an unbelievable blessing.
“Our players are continuing to do the work, and we’re grateful and we’re going to keep working.”
While it’s not possible for 100 percent of players in the league to be registered to vote — not everyone is a United States citizen — Paul’s announcement is a massive accomplishment. 76ers coach Doc Rivers estimated that only about 20 percent of the league voted in the last election, which makes Paul’s announcement even more impressive.
Voting has been a major focus since play resumed after a player-led strike earlier in the playoffs following the Jacob Blake shooting in Wisconsin. Vote signs have appeared inside the arenas at Walt Disney World, commercials and ad campaigns were launched and players even started wearing customized “VOTE” warm-up shirts during the conference finals.
Arenas and practice facilities across the country have pledged to transform into polling places in November, and LeBron James — who leads More Than A Vote — is working with LiveNation to turn concert venues into polling places, too.
Players and coaches have pushed the importance of voting consistently during postgame interviews and other media availability throughout their time in Florida.
“First of all, [voting is] our right,” Rivers said in August amid his playoff run with the Clippers. “And the fact that there’s so much voter suppression going on with Blacks and Latinos, and really young people, tells you how important voting is.
“And so, I’m not going to tell you who to vote for. I have my opinion, as you all know. But I just urge everyone to vote, exercise that right. We have fought so hard.”
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