USC Athletics | September 22, 2020
LOS ANGELES — USC's Galen Center, home to the Trojan men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams, will serve as a voting site from Oct. 30 through Election Day on Nov. 3.
"USC Athletics is pleased to do our part in the election process by opening up the Galen Center as a safe, convenient and accessible place to vote," said USC athletic director Mike Bohn. "I am proud that this came about because of the efforts of our USC Athletic Black Lives Matter Action Team and our student-athletes. They recognize that the Constitutional right to vote is foundational for our democracy and they steadfastly believe in using their voices and actions to help ensure our country's future."
The Galen Center is located at the corner of Figueroa Street and Jefferson Boulevard, with the voters' entrance on the building's south side. Parking is free at the Figueroa Parking Structure located behind the USC Hotel on Figueroa Street.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, strict protocols will be enforced at the Galen Center, including required wearing of masks, social distancing, frequent sanitizing of hands and equipment, adequate ventilation and one-directional foot traffic.
This is the latest in USC Athletics' efforts to promote Election Day safe early voting and civic engagement.
Last month, it was announced that USC student-athletes will be given Election Day off free from all athletic activities to ensure that they can exercise their Constitutional right to vote. The impetus for this action came from USC's United Black Student-Athlete Association, Trojan Athletic Senate and the USC Athletics Black Lives Matter Action Team's Steering and Advisory Committees.
To date, eight USC teams have had all eligible student-athletes on their rosters register to vote, with the remaining Trojan teams facilitating registration for their student-athletes who desire to vote.
Also, the USC Athletics Black Lives Matter Action Team is organizing a pair of voter literacy events for Trojan student-athletes, coaches and athletic department staff.
"USC Athletics is following a long tradition of athletes demonstrating a concern for civil and human rights beyond their sport," said Julie Rousseau, chair of USC Athletics' Black Lives Matter Action Team. "A long list of athletes, such as Paul Robeson, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, John Carlos and Tommie Smith, Althea Gibson and Billie Jean King, are icons in that tradition. And we are seeing a resurgence of that spirit among our contemporary athletes like Colin Kaepernick, Chris Long, Allyson Felix, Kyle Korver, Megan Rapinoe, LeBron James, Maya Moore and more. The Trojan Athletic Department is proud to continue that tradition by taking a leadership role in providing a safe and accessible voting site for the 2020 election."
These actions are taking place in accordance with the California Voter's Choice Act of 2016 to modernize elections in California. This new election model allows voters to choose how, when, and where to cast their ballot by mailing every voter a ballot, expanding in-person early voting and allowing voters to cast a ballot at any vote center within their county.
