Team launches public service announcement to encourage fans to “Get in the Game”
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars today launched an organization-wide commitment to voter education organized by players and coaches and designed to encourage fans to “Get in the Game” with a call for civic engagement. The season-long campaign kicks off today with a public service announcement encouraging voter registration and will continue through election day with activations via social media, on game day, through grassroots activities and local and national partnerships.
“You can look at voting as a privilege, and as a naturalized U.S. citizen, you can be assured that I do,” said Jaguars Owner Shad Khan. “But I also see it as a civic responsibility. If we’re serious about being better in our communities and throughout our nation, and all voices being heard and respected, we have to participate in the electoral process. No exceptions.
“It’s our duty to cast a ballot. If you haven’t registered to vote, please do by October 5. If you’re registered, please vote.”
The campaign kicks off today with a non-partisan, “Get in the Game” public service announcement featuring Jaguars players and coaches, including Head Coach Doug Marrone and QB Gardner Minshew II, calling for fans in Florida to register to vote by the Oct. 5 deadline. The public service announcement will begin airing in Jaguars programming and around the community thanks in part to the generous support of local media including CBS47/FOX30 Action News Jax, the team’s official broadcast partner, as well as First Coast News and Channel 4 The Local Station. A radio version of the call to action will air on 1010XL, the team’s flagship station. The Jaguars have created www.jaguars.com/vote as a resource for the community looking for more information on voter registration and key deadlines.
“We challenge everyone to exercise their democratic duty and take the time to register and vote,” WR Chris Conley said. “For me, simply voting is not enough. I think it’s crucial to encourage and empower others around me to take advantage of the opportunity to let their voice be heard. Sports and society have always been intertwined, and as an NFL player, I’m hoping to use my platform to stress the importance of voting to Jacksonville residents and others around this country. The time is now.”
The “Get in the Game” campaign will continue through Election Day on Nov. 3 with additional multimedia content. Following the deadline to register, players and coaches will shift their call to action to voter turnout. The Jaguars will celebrate voting on game day on Oct. 18 when they host the Detroit Lions at TIAA Bank Field, the day before early voting in Florida begins.
Jaguars front office employees will have the option to “Get in the Game” and further support the voters of Duval County by taking training from the Duval County Supervisor of Elections office to serve as poll workers on Election Day, Nov. 3. Employees can elect to participate in this day of service and serve throughout the community as assigned. Employees have the opportunity to donate their time to the Jaguars Foundation to support the campaign. In addition, the team has committed to giving employees necessary flexibility to head to the polls during the election cycle to ensure their voice is heard.
Jaguars players, coaches and front office staff all recently participated in virtual voter education courtesy of RISE, a non-profit organization selected by the NFL to support their national NFL Votes campaign. RISE’s nonpartisan initiative RISE to Vote led a virtual team meeting on August 17, walking players through the registration process and giving them insight on the history of voting rights in America. Players engaged in dialogue around the ballot issues important to them and discussed the impact of all elections, local, state and federal.
