With less than a week until Election Day, nonpartisan organizations around the state are offering free or discounted rides to the polls on Nov. 3.
Structural barriers—such as lack of transportation to the polls—keep millions of eligible Americans from participating in elections. Organizations who offer rides to the polls are trying to change that.
Research has consistently shown when voters do not have access to a car, they vote at lower rates. A study found that 29% of eligible voters who did not vote noted lack of transportation as a barrier.
“Sometimes the biggest barriers to voting aren’t about whether people want to participate, they’re about whether they can get there,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters.
Free rides around Iowa:
- Polls & Back: This free service pairs volunteer drivers with Des Moines metro voters, no questions asked.
- RIDES (Regional Transit Authority): Voters in Sioux Center, Orange City, Rock Rapids, Sheldon, and other northwest Iowa communities can get a free ride to the polls. Associate Executive Director Cindy Voss says free rides will be available during regular business hours weekdays up to and including election day.
- DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority): You can ride DART bus routes for free all day on Election Day.
- The Jule (Dubuque’s Public Transit): fixed-route service and on-demand service will provide free “Ride to Vote” rides from 6:15 a.m. until 6:45 p.m on Election Day
Discounted rides:
- Lyft is offering 50% off rides to the polls on Election Day using the discount code VOTE26. This discount is available from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time.
- Lime Scooter: Use code ‘HEADCOUNT’ on your Lime app to unlock your free 30 minute ride to and from your polling location.
Have a ride? Volunteer to give rides to the polls through VoteRun, a nonprofit civic transportation network. Volunteers must submit information about who’s driving,, vehicle, availability, and consent to a backgroundcheck.
Election Day is Nov. 3. Contact your local election office for details.
