On Tuesday, the final day for D.C. voters to register in advance for the election, the Mystics’ home court in Congress Heights will host a voter registration drive with the city’s major sports teams.

The D.C. Board of Elections is organizing the voter registration drive in partnership with the Wizards, Mystics, Capitals, Nationals, and Washington Football Team to reach unregistered voters.

Another purpose for the event is to inform Ward 8 residents that the Entertainment and Sports Arena is a super vote center available to them on Election Day, says Nick Jacobs, DC BOE Public Information Officer. (Super vote centers are large polling locations that can accommodate crowds while still respecting social distancing rules.)

On Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., District residents can register to vote and meet athletes like Washington Football Team alumni Joshua Morgan and Khary Campbell, and Wizards alumni Harvey Grant and Phil Chenier. The Nationals Racing Presidents and Wizards Dancers will also be there.

Other athletes are being confirmed, says Jacobs of DC BOE. “I don’t want to overpromise [autographs and photos] but with reasonable precautions being taken, I hope they would be amenable to it,” he says.

To register, people need to bring proof of residency, like a driver’s license, paycheck, utility bill, or lease. Safety protocols will be enforced such as social distancing and mask requirements, and hand sanitizer will be available. Martha’s Table will distribute free groceries regardless of registration status and Dunkin’ Donuts will supply free coffee. The site address is Blue Lot Parking 1100 Oak Street, SE.

If folks miss out, same-day registration is still an option for residents who opt to vote early or vote on Election Day in person, though they will not receive a mail-in ballot.

The largely city-funded Entertainment and Sports Arena wasn’t always slated to be a polling center. As of September, the large polling centers in D.C. included Capital One Arena, Nationals Park, the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Dock 5 at Union Market, and the University of the District of Columbia, raising concerns that none of the locations were east of the Anacostia River.

A September Washington Post article pointed out the lack of access to “supervoting” centers in wards 7 and 8. Polling centers in that part of the city saw long lines during the June primary and are expected to see a large in-person turnout again this November. The ESA is owned by Events DC, the city’s quasi-public convention and sports authority, which said the building was otherwise occupied at the time.

Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud spoke up in a series of tweets directed at Events DC: “When we moved into [Southeast] we promised this community we would be apart of a solution. Lets not just talk about it….let’s be about it.” Cloud, who has been outspoken about issues like gun violence at D.C. schools, forwent the 2020 WNBA season to focus on the fight for social justice.

Shortly thereafter, Events DC reversed itself. “We recognize and fully support the efforts to promote voting, particularly in our community East of the River,” Events D.C. President Greg O’Dell said in a statement. “We have not heard from the Board of Elections in recent weeks; however, we will make sure that the dates are available for the Arena to serve as a voting center if necessary and hope to shift the potential programming to future dates.”

More than in years past, athletes have been involved in the lead-up to Election Day. Wizards player Bradley Beal has been using his platform to encourage fans to vote, admitting at a DC BOE event that it would be his first time casting a ballot. Players like LeBron James have called on cities and team owners to turn arenas into voting centers.