Rays, Bucs, Lightning urge election worker signups
September 1, 2020 - A half-dozen local sports organizations are among the local companies and nonprofits that are backing efforts to encourage people to sign up as election workers for the November election. The Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Rowdies and USF Athletics joined forces as #TeamTampaBay to participate in National Poll Worker Recruitment Day. The Sept. 1 event was established by he U.S. Election Assistance Commission and aims to raise awareness about the benefits and importance of poll working and to inspire more Americans to volunteer. There's a critical shortage of poll workers in part because of the pandemic, and because most poll workers are traditionally older and potentially more vulnerable to complications if they contract Covid-19, a news release said. Each of the local participating sports organizations said they would offer their staff paid time off to volunteer as a poll worker.