The Utah Jazz and the Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment Group have announced that the organization will be making Vivint Smart Home Arena and three of the company’s Megaplex Theatres available to serve as polling stations for the general election in November. The announcement was made in conjunction with the Salt Lake County Clerk’s office.
“Our sports and entertainment venues are familiar community gathering places and we are pleased to join with the Salt Lake County Election Division to provide four facilities as safe, convenient and accessible voting locations on Election Day,” said Gail Miller, owner and chair of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, in a release following the temporary shutdown of the NBA playoffs in Orlando, Florida, in a protest by teams of racial and social justice conditions.
The Megaplex Luxury Theatres at Cottonwood in Holladay, Megaplex Theatres at The District in South Jordan and Megaplex Theatres at Jordan Commons in Sandy are the movie venues that will be included with the basketball arena. Miller officials emphasized that the voting locations will comply with pandemic public health guidelines.
The Jazz joined a number of other NBA teams in making their arenas available for voting. According to the NBA and the NBA Players Association, that list includes all arenas where the team controls the the venue.
The Miller organization also announced policies that will facilitate voting by its employees. The company will provide employees paid time off to vote in both primary and general state and federal elections.
“Exercising our right to vote allows us to share our voice and to act to preserve our rights and freedoms,” Miller’s statement said. “We hope the use of our facilities provides voters with greater poll access and that the voter experience meets the highest standards of safety, security and election integrity.”
