NFL Votes is a League-Wide, Nonpartisan Voting Initiative to Inspire the NFL Family to Participate in the Democratic Process
NEW YORK – Aug.1, 2024 – The key to a healthy and vibrant democracy is active civic engagement among citizens, which is why the National Football League is encouraging the collective NFL family, including fans, to make their voices heard and cast a ballot in this year’s election cycle and beyond.
During the 2024-2025 NFL season, the NFL, its clubs, and players will come together and activate NFL Votes, including on the field during Weeks 8 and 9 of the regular season. This league-wide, nonpartisan initiative was launched alongside the NFL Players Association in 2020 and encourages voting and civic engagement throughout the NFL and its communities. NFL Votes is focused on driving awareness and participation around three key components of the electoral process: (1) voter education; (2) voter registration; and (3) voter activation.
NFL Votes will come to life through a national public awareness campaign highlighting the importance of civic engagement, with other key activations and touchpoints continuing throughout the first half of the NFL season and culminating on Election Day on November 5.
“The NFL has an unparalleled ability to bring people together around the game of football,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We recognize our privileged position as a national unifier and are committed to using our platform to encourage the entire NFL family to make their voices heard and help direct our country’s future.”
Public Awareness Campaign
Starting today, an NFL Votes public awareness campaign will launch nationwide featuring two video spots. The first will debut during the NFL’s 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game when the Chicago Bears take on the Houston Texans and will encourage eligible voters to check their local registration deadlines and ensure they are registered to vote ahead of the upcoming election cycle. To view the first spot, click here. The second spot, which will focus on voter turnout, will air later this fall.
Several NFL players and Legends will be featured in the spots, including Kelvin Beachum (Arizona Cardinals); Dion Dawkins (Buffalo Bills); Adam Thielen (Carolina Panthers); Raheem Mostert (Miami Dolphins); Kayvon Thibodeaux (New York Giants); Austin Ekeler (Washington Commanders); and NFL Legend Andrew Whitworth.
An NFL “NFL Vota” public awareness campaign will also debut alongside the first national spot, inspiring eligible voters in the Latino community to participate in the country’s democratic process. The spot will feature Dave Canales, head coach of the Carolina Panthers. For more information on NFL Vota in Spanish, click here.
Club Activations and Events
Throughout the season, all 32 NFL clubs will host activations and events to support civic engagement within their local communities, funded in part by grants from the NFL Foundation. Individual club activations will include:
- The Kansas City Chiefs will partner with the other local professional sports teams in the region, including the Kansas City Royals, Sporting Kansas City and the Kansas City Current, to host a city-wide voter registration drive and civic education day across three locations in both Missouri and Kansas.
- The Buffalo Bills will collaborate with its local Board of Elections to host an interactive voter and poll worker registration drive at their first two home games of the regular season.
- The Seattle Seahawks “12s Vote” initiative includes a wide array of efforts to increase voter participation including educational outreach and targeted engagement, public service announcement collaboration with the Washington Secretary of State, internal team registration goals, and hosting an election center at Lumen Field in partnership with King County Elections. Seahawks.com/12sVote was created as a resource center for fans as well.
All NFL clubs offered the use of their respective stadiums or practice facilities for election-related activities, including as voter registration, ballot drop-off, early voting, or Election Day sites. The stadiums that will be used for election-related activities will be announced on a rolling basis. Clubs will also display in-stadium NFL Votes assets and branding during Weeks 8 and/or 9 of the NFL regular season.
All NFL league and club personnel, including players, coaches and staff, will be required to participate in a mandatory “Voting 101″ education course. This session will provide thousands of participants with a broad overview of the electoral process and voting requirements, including information on voter registration.
National Partners
To support NFL Votes, the league has partnered with several national nonpartisan organizations working to foster a more inclusive and engaged voting population. The NFL will leverage its platform to provide these organizations with the resources needed to help advance their missions.
- I am a voter is a nonpartisan organization that aims to create a cultural shift around voting and civic engagement by unifying around a central truth: democracy works best when we all participate.
- RISEis a national nonpartisan organization that educates and empowers the sports community to champion social justice and improve race relations. Through its RISE to Vote initiative, the group engages with and empowers teams, leagues, and athletes to get more involved, make a difference, and inspire fans to be civically active.
- ROCK the Vote is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization dedicated to building the political power of young people. The organization leverages technology, innovation and research-driven programs to reach each new generation and ensure they can vote and be represented in our democracy.
- Vet the Vote is a national nonpartisan campaign designed to recruit veterans and military family members to become the next generation of poll workers. Vet the Vote is leading the way in supporting safe and secure elections, helping to show that it’s still possible for Americans to work together in patriotic service.
League Events
NFL Votes will also be activated around key tentpole events, including the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio and the league’s annual primetime kickoff game on Thursday, September 5 when the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. At both events, the NFL will work with national and local partners to help fans register to vote.
In addition, earlier this summer, the NFL partnered with BET Media Group and the Players Coalition to host several NFL Votes activations at the BETX Fan Fest, including a live panel discussion with NFL players and Legends about the importance of voter engagement in the Black community.
For more information about NFL Votes, please visit nfl.com/votes.
