WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Voters will decide the outcome of the 2024 election, but getting to the polls is half the battle.
Whether Americans will vote in person or drop off at a drop box location, community groups and companies are offering free and discounted ways to get there.
“I just got back from delivering a woman to her polling location, and back to her apartment. Her husband had passed a number of years ago, and she wasn’t comfortable driving,” said Matthew Hurtt, chairman of the Arlington County Republican Party.
Arlington County says the local GOP organization and Arlington Democrats offer free rides for residents to exercise their right to vote.
“We’ve definitely received more calls for rides to the polls this year, than any other year that I’ve been involved,” Hurtt said.
He added he believes it is because, “a lot of Americans, particularly those in northern Virginia — a highly educated community — are really interested in this election.”
According to a 2021 study published by a Harvard and Boston University professor, voter turnout is higher among people with vehicles than those without.
The study found that 66% of voters in the 2018 general election also had a vehicle in their household, while just 36% of voters did not.
In the DMV, the Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) said many trips will be free on election day.
“Free transit rides will be available on Maryland Transit Administration core service including Local Bus (CityLink, LocalLink and Express BusLink), Metro Subway, Light Rail and the Mobility paratransit system,” according to an MTA press release published Friday.
A spokesperson for WMATA said the transit agency — which operates Metro bus and Metro rails — is not offering discounts to the polls.
Rideshare fans, and those without a set of wheels, can consider Uber or Lyft — both offer 50% off rides to polling locations; a discount of up to $10.
Lyft said riders should use the ‘VOTE24’ code on or before Tuesday, Nov. 5, during normal voting hours to access this discount.
Scooter and electric bikeshare service Veo says they are offering a $5 promo to get to polls through election day using the ‘VOTE24’ code.
Voters should double-check individual polling locations before heading out the door. Check in with your state elections office website for information on where you’ll cast a ballot.
Elections websites for Maryland, Virginia and DC can be found below:
Maryland Board of Elections: https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/where.html
Virginia Department of Elections: https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation
DC Board of Elections: https://dcboe.org/home
