Emil Moffatt
,
Lauren Booker
| WABE
June 29th, 2020
Updated June 29 at 5:10 p.m.
Fulton County is adding State Farm Arena to its polling places, thanks to a partnership with the Atlanta Hawks.
The arena will become the largest voting location in the state’s history, according to a Fulton County government press release Monday.
The Fulton County Board of Elections approved the massive stadium to be used as an early voting location, along with 18 other sites, starting July 20 for the Georgia general primary runoff election on Aug. 11. Voting will available Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The arena will also be an early voting site for the November general election.
“Speaking of November, we’re going to use the bowl, where the basketball floor normally sits,” said Richard Barron, Fulton County elections director. “We’re going to be able to put a couple hundred machines down there, 25 check-in sites. We’ll be able to socially distance. We’ve already talked with the Hawks about how we can do it. The Hawks are really excited about participating in this and offering this up was very generous on their part.”
Fulton County said the Hawks have offered 300 employees to assist with the election process.
“I think it’s going to be a different experience to vote at State Farm Arena, and I think people from all over the county are probably going to go vote there.”
MARTA is offering direct access to the precinct starting for early voting beginning on July 20 by reopening the arena’s closest rail station, according to their press release. The transit system is encouraging social distancing and will disinfect the station throughout the day.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that the State Farm Arena will be an early voting site for the November general election.
