NFL partners with three organizations to get out the vote

The NFL is partnering with three non-profit, non-partisan organizations to get out the vote as the league leverages its “Inspire Change” initiative.

The program will support and encourage voting and civic engagement efforts of current and former NFL players, club and league personnel and fans beginning Thursday until Election Day in November.

“We’re launching NFL Votes to inspire everyone in the NFL family – including our fans – to participate in the civic process by getting registered to vote and ultimately exercising their right to vote,” said Commissioner Roger Goodell, whose father was a renowned U.S. senator. “When meeting with players and legends to listen to the things they’re passionate about, voting is clearly an issue of critical importance.”

Rock the Vote, RISE to Vote and I am a voter are the three partners who will conduct educational seminars and help with registrations and activation for all NFL personnel. Those groups will assist players in organizing their own voter registration drives for fans and local communities in club markets, hometowns, alumni college campuses, high schools and military bases overseas.

Twins Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin of the Seahawks are at the forefront of the movement among players. They know all too well about Americans not exercising their rights; about 100 million eligible voters, roughly 43%, did not go to the polls in 2016.

“We once were at a time in our lives when we felt our vote did not matter, and that came from conversations with people who felt the same way,” said Shaquill, an emerging star safety entering his fourth pro season. “But our vote really does count. We all sat down together, talked with our mom and dad, and you can’t get to the point that it doesn’t matter. That was a problem, but once you have the conversation, we...