Live Nation to use concert venues as polling places

Live Nation is exploring more than 100 concert venues across the country to serve as polling places in the upcoming November elections.

The Wiltern and Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, Emo’s in Austin, Texas, and the Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta are all confirmed to serve as polling sites, the company announced Wednesday.

The Fillmore in Philadelphia also “is in the final stages of the vetting process” to serve as a polling location, Live Nation added.

“Core to what we do at Live Nation is helping amplify voices on stage around the world, and supporting voting is another important way we want to continue making voices heard,” said Michael Rapino, president and CEO of Live Nation.

Philadelphia City Commissioner Al Schmidt (R) lauded the move, saying in a Wednesday statement that the company “is going above and beyond by recognizing that elections are about more than just polling places.”

“They’re about our communities,” Schmidt added.

Live Nation is partnering with More Than a Vote, a nonprofit voting rights coalition of Black athletes and artists, as well as the organization Civic Alliance on the effort.

The move comes as concerts around the world have been canceled or delayed during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The company is seeking to provide safe polling places during the pandemic as some locations throughout the U.S. have had to close amid health concerns, the Detroit Free Press noted.

Live Nation also confirmed Wednesday that it will provide up to one half-day of paid time off to its employees on Election Day on Nov. 3. The company will also provide a day off for employees to serve as poll workers. 

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced a commitment last month to convert some arena facilities into in-person voting locations during the general election.

Updated at 3:34 p.m.