ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Ford Field will be used as a location for the receiving boards on Election Night in November, the team announced Tuesday.
A receiving board is used to check ballot returns and review paperwork from precincts throughout Election Day. It is, according to Michigan's state website, "an independent board established to ensure the recountability of election precincts."
Ballots and equipment will be delivered and secured at Ford Field in case they are needed for recounting. The building will host 8 of 12 of Detroit's receiving boards, which ensure integrity of results and ballots from precincts. These boards are required by the state of Michigan.
The Detroit Lions, who play at Ford Field, have been involved with voting registration initiatives in the past few months, including a town hall with Matthew Stafford, Duron Harmon and Trey Flowers.
"We all desire real and lasting social change, racial healing, abundant opportunity for all, and meaningful social justice progress in many aspects of our democracy," said Detroit Lions Principal Owner and Team Chairman Sheila Ford Hamp and her husband Steve Hamp in a statement. "For this to happen, for our democracy to be responsive and to improve, we all need to register to vote, learn about the candidates who are running for office, and then cast our votes in person or by absentee ballot. Our democracy is an inspiring and noble enterprise, but it is not perfect. It's time to fix that."
Lions employees will also be given Election Day off to work as election workers and help at Ford Field.