Orlando Magic teams up with city, county to convert Amway Center into early voting center

The Amway Center downtown will serve as an early voting location in Orange County for 14 days this fall, officials announced Wednesday afternoon.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer made the announcement. The site will be turned into an early voting site in conjunction with Orange County, the Orlando Magic and the Orange County Supervisor of Elections.

“This venue is now going to be used for something that’s incredibly impactful for Orange County and our nation,” Dyer said.

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The atrium area on the north side of the massive facility in the heart of Orlando will serve as the early voting site from Oct. 19 through Nov. 1 each day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The move was sparked by the NBA and its players association. In the aftermath of the walkout of playoff basketball games last week and following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, a social justice coalition was established to promote greater civic engagement, including elections.

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The Magic joins 14 other NBA teams in opening up their arenas for voting. The idea is to make it easier for people to vote in a more convenient location with more space for social distancing.

“Voting to me is the most American thing you can do for a democracy to work,” Orlando Magic player Mo Bamba said. “I learned that at a very young age.”

Election Day is Nov. 3.

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