WASHINGTON — A year after the NCAA gave athletes Election Day off, football and basketball teams all over the country were practicing on the first Tuesday in November.
Although the NCAA's Election Day rule remains in place, teams could pursue waivers if they wanted to practice — and many did, including some in places with significant decisions on the ballot.
Virginia's men's basketball team had the day off. Virginia Tech practiced but had a civic engagement presentation set for afterward. The battle for governor in Virginia is among the most scrutinized races in the country.
“Like numerous institutions, we worked with the NCAA and received a waiver to practice today," the school said in a statement. "We continue to provide civic engagement opportunities for our student-athletes and will dedicate a day during this academic year for additional civic engagement programming.”
In September 2020, the NCAA approved a mandate that Division I athletes would not practice or compete on the first Tuesday after Nov. 1. It was a way to encourage athletes to vote and become more engaged politically, although there was some question about whether the value was more symbolic than logistical. Many athletes — and many citizens in general — vote before Election Day, but having the day off opened the door for players to participate in other election-related activities.
With no presidential election this year, and with control of Congress not at stake until the 2022 midterms, there's some question as to whether Election Day remains on the radar for college athletes. This is still an opportunity for coaches to stress the importance of voting even when the presidency isn't on the ballot.
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