By Jessica A. Corbitt-Dominguez
Fulton County voters will once again have the opportunity to cast their ballots in world-class sports venues for the January 5 runoff election. For the first time, voters will also be able to vote at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in addition to State Farm Arena where more than 40,000 Fulton County voters cast their ballots during early voting for the November general election.
For the December early voting period, AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) (parent company for the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium) and the Atlanta Hawks will both partner with Fulton County to host a portion of the early voting. Building on the success of the November 3 General Election, thousands of early voters are expected to cast their ballots between the two venues ahead of the January runoff.
With the NFL season already underway and the NBA season set to begin in December, a unique partnership between the two venues allows them to jointly host early voting, first at State Farm Arena from December 14 to 19, then at Mercedes-Benz Stadium from December 22 to 30. The transition between the two facilities will take place on December 21. No voting will take place on December 24 and 25.
Both venues offer the capacity to accommodate social distancing, allowing voters to safely vote in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Early voting operations will be staffed by both organizations working with Fulton County Department of Registration & Elections.
“This partnership is a testament to the commitment of the leadership of our professional sports teams in Fulton County,” said County Chairman Robb Pitts. “More than 40,000 voters cast their ballots at State Farm Arena, and now our residents have a chance to visit another world-class facility right here in our community.”
“We are proud to continue our partnership with Fulton County and begin this new one with AMBSE as we continue to fulfill our mission to be a community asset by ensuring that all Fulton County residents can exercise their right to vote in a safe, efficient manner,” said Mr. Tony Ressler, principal owner of the Atlanta Hawks. “In these unprecedented times, the entire Hawks organization is dedicated to contributing to our community, and it is also important to all of us that we collaborate with other likeminded private sector organizations to build bridges with local and state government to support the needs of area residents.”
“We are thrilled to offer Mercedes-Benz Stadium as an early voting location for the Senate runoff election,” says Steve Cannon, CEO, AMB Sports and Entertainment. “Voter awareness and active participation have long been priorities for our organization, and we are thrilled to be able to offer our support and services to Georgia voters. We are grateful to the Hawks and State Farm Arena in partnering with us and we will ensure that Fulton County voters continue to have the best voting experience possible.”
“We are proud of the experience that we’ve been able to offer Fulton County voters in these important elections,” said Steve Koonin, CEO, Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena. “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.”
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