There’s been a whole heck of a lot of talk about potential voter suppression leading up to the 2020 Presidential Election between incumbent Donald Trump (R) and Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden.
At issue here is mail-in voting (or absentee voting as it’s been called in the past). The current administration is against this in widespread fashion, claiming possible voter fraud.
As it is, Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James continues to sink his teeth into the political realm. That now includes the three-time NBA champion teaming up with MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers to help those vote in California come November.
“Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James’ voting-rights group has partnered with the Los Angeles Dodgers to make Dodger Stadium a polling place for the November general election, marking the first time a Major League Baseball team has offered its facility as a voting center,’ ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Thursday afternoon.
This drive will be done in coordination with More Than a Vote, a group that Mr. James co-founded earlier this year. For five days leading up to the Nov. 3 election, registered voters will be able to park free at Dodger Stadium and cast their ballots. It should increase turnout in the strong Democratic state, which is highly likely to go for Mr. Biden.
The one question here is why James won’t expand these voter efforts to his native Ohio, a true battleground in an election that seems to be leaning in Biden’s favor. It’s not a secret that the NBA’s biggest superstar isn’t chummy with the current occupant of the White House.
In any event, this is the first time that a Major League Baseball team has used its venue to help in the voting efforts. Others will likely follow suit here soon.
This all comes with the NBA in the midst of its season resuming at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Needless to say, the Association has been on the front burner of the political world due to players and teams continuing to protest racial inequality during the national anthem.
It will be interesting to see how these stars, James included, take on more of a role with the election less than three months away and whether it has much of an impact.