In a push to get more people out to the ballot box, for the fourth time in five years, the entire NBA will go dark.
The league did not schedule any games Tuesday, Nov. 3, the day of the fiercely contested 2026 U.S. midterm elections. Because the first slate of polls close on the East Coast at 6 p.m. ET, with many more at 7 p.m. ET, holding games would severely interfere with the ability for people who choose to vote in person to do so.
It’s one of the three days that the NBA typically avoids scheduling games, joining Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
The NBA has also published a website with several resources for fans interested in voting to learn more about their polling sites, ballots, and the league even has a link to check voter registration
status.
Although the entire league is off Tuesday, each team played Monday, Nov. 2. And at each of those 15 games, players wore T-shirts that said “VOTE” across the chest.
The Wizards are warming up in “Vote” shirts before tonight’s game pic.twitter.com/MBeMIuwMMs
— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) November 3, 2026
“No games have been scheduled for Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3) as the league will encourage fans and the broader NBA community to make a plan to vote and to participate in the civic process,” the NBA said in August when it issued its official release announcing the schedule.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr spoke on the importance of voting before their game against the Phoenix Suns on Monday, Nov. 2.
“I hope everybody votes," Kerr said. "I voted today, dropped my ballot off in a ballot box near my house, and, you know, I always encourage everybody to get out there and vote. And sometimes there's a tendency to stay away in the midterms and only vote in the presidential elections, but there's a lot of really important issues here in California.
"I hope everybody gets out there and cast their ballot. That's what democracy's about.”
The NBA first began the initiative of not scheduling games on Election Day in Nov. 2022. At the time, the league also encouraged its teams to promote voting initiatives. The NBA also declined to schedule games on Election Day 2023 and 2024.
And since Tuesday will be an off night, the league will return to action in full force Wednesday, Nov. 4, with a slate packed with 14 games.
Contributing: Marcus Smith
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why are there no NBA games today? League promotes the midterm vote
