SACRAMENTO -- Bigger than basketball. It's a mantra that has played out many times in Sacramento and the Kings are dusting off the message again for National Voter Registration Day with their "Rally the Vote" push.
The Kings are one of nine professional franchises teaming up for a nonpartisan coalition urging their fans to register to vote before the November primaries.
Joining the Kings in the effort are the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco 49ers and San Francisco Giants.
As of 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 87.9 million Americans eligible to vote who are not registered. Through teams mobile apps, websites and social media channels, a platform for fans has been created to register fans to vote.
"If we can make buying a ticket to a sporting event accessible in a few clicks, there is no reason why registering to vote shouldn't be the same," Vivek Ranadivé, Owner and Chairman of the Sacramento Kings said via a prepared statement. "Voting is one of the most important things we do as Americans and is central to our democracy, yet tens of millions of people are not registered to vote. Sports teams have a responsibility to enact positive change in their communities, and I'm proud to see so many of us coming together to help fans register to vote so that they can have a voice in elections."
The group of franchises have partnered with Democracy Works, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that uses technology to make voting easier.
Marvin Bagley III has filmed a PSA for the registration drive which will air in the arena during the Kings' preseason matchups against Maccabi Haifa on Oct. 8 and the Utah Jazz on Oct. 11 and again during the season opener against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 17.
The deadline to register in the upcoming election in California is Oct. 22. To register to vote through Rally the Vote, visit RallyTheVote.TurboVote.org.
