University of Portland Athletics is launching the Pilots Vote Initiative (PVI), which focuses on voter education and voter registration and encourages UP student-athletes and staff to vote in the 2020 General Election in November, as well as future elections. Portland will also give all student-athletes the day off from athletic activities on Nov. 3, which is election day.
 
"Voting is a civic duty and a right that all of us should value," Portland Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam said. "Part of our educational mission is informing our students on the importance of registering and exercising their right to vote. With a diverse student-athlete population coming from various locations, it is that much more important to educate everyone on the registration process. Oregon is a vote by mail state, but we will still have no athletic activities on Election Day and instead focus on raising voter awareness and coordinating community service opportunities. It's exciting to see the passion of so many people in our department driving this initiative."
 
The Pilots Vote Initiative also involves student leaders and existing organizations on campus such as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to provide education and supporting action. SAAC leaders will meet with their teams to begin the education and registration process during September in preparation for November 3.
 
Please visit the Pilots Vote Initiative homepage at PortlandPilots.com/Vote, which includes more information and helpful links.