NBA will NOT schedule any games on Election Day on November 8

The NBA have decided not to schedule any regular season games on Election Day in the US, in a bid to get more people to the polls to vote in the midterms.

All 30 teams will instead play on November 7, the day before, leaving November 8 free, while NBA chiefs are also urging teams to share election information in the weeks leading up to the date. 

‘It’s unusual. We don’t usually change the schedule for an external event,’ James Cadogan, the executive director of the NBA’s social justice coalition, told NBC this week.  

Election Day in the USA falls on November 8 this year, and there will be no NBA games slated

‘But voting and Election Day are obviously unique and incredibly important to our democracy.’ 

In the 2020 presidential election race, 23 NBA arenas and facilities were turned into makeshift polling and voting centers, while LeBron James has been particularly vocal in urging young people to get out and vote.

The LA Lakers superstar was one of the leaders for ‘More Than A Vote’, a voting rights advocacy group. 

On previous election days, the league has continued as normal, making this year’s decision particularly surprising.

On previous election days, the league has continued as normal – but not this time around

In the US elections, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for re-election in 2022

In 2018, four games were played, while in 2016 there were six and 2014 eight.

The full NBA schedule is due to be released at 4pm EST on Wednesday, giving fans their first real taste of excitement ahead of the new season. 

In the US elections, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for re-election, plus 30 senate seats and key races in multiple states.