Nine major US sports unions on Monday announced their joint opposition to legislative efforts to impose new voting restrictions.

Following the November 2020 election, many states have either considered or have passed legislation restricting the right to vote. In early March, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation that made early voting more difficult, in addition to other changes. In April, the Florida legislature passed a bill changing voting procedures and adding restrictions to the use of drop boxes. Georgia passed a voting rights bill that imposed several barriers to accessing the polls, which has faced several lawsuits from civil rights groups.

In early April, dozens of major US law firms signed on to a statement denouncing these legislative efforts to restrict voting rights. Also in April, more than 100 major corporations, including Apple and Starbucks, published an advertisement in the New York Times affirming their support for accessible voting.

On Monday, nine major US sports unions similarly issued a statement opposing legislative efforts to restrict voting. Writing that they stand for democracy, the unions noted that a “Government of the people, by the people” is a “beautifully American ideal, but a reality denied to many for much of this nation’s history.” The statement stressed that everyone should feel the responsibility to defend the right to vote and to oppose “any discriminatory legislation or measures” restricting eligible voters from “having an equal and fair opportunity to case a ballot.”

The nine unions that signed were the Basketball Players Union, Major League Soccer Players Association, National Football League Players Association, National Women’s Hockey League Players’ Association, National Women’s Soccer League Players Association, Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association, United States Women’s National Team Players Association, and Women’s National Basketball Players Association.