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Secretary Benson shares a list of transportation agencies offering free and discounted rides to the polls on Election Day
LANSING, Mich. – With less than a week before the Nov. 5 General Election, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson advised voters to make their travel arrangements for casting a ballot at the polls or an early voting site. She shared a list produced by MichiganVoting.org of nonpartisan organizations and companies that are offering free-of-charge and discounted rides to the polls and early voting sites.
“It's important that transportation not stand in the way of any eligible Michigan citizen and their access to the ballot box,” Secretary Benson said. “I'm glad lawmakers worked to lift the ban on providing rides to voting locations and grateful to the organizations who have stepped up to provide transportation for citizens who need it to vote. These services will be essential for many, especially older citizens and voters with disabilities, to ensure every eligible voter can make their voice heard in this election."
Multiple transportation agencies across the state are offering transportation to help voters get to the polls. Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) is offering systemwide free rides now through Nov. 5 for riders registering to vote, those participating in early voting, and those taking their ballot to a drop box or polling site. Riders simply need to inform the bus driver upon boarding of their intent to participate in voter-related activities.
“The Capital Area Transportation Authority has provided free rides on Election Day since 1988, and we've worked hard to build on that legacy in recent years,” said CATA Board Chair Nathan Triplett. “After voters approved Proposal 2 in 2022, establishing their constitutional right to cast an early vote in every statewide and federal election, the value of public transportation to promote greater voter participation, and improve equity and access to the ballot box for all eligible voters, became more significant than ever before. Our core competency — to provide safe and reliable transportation to the public — is especially important to those who do not have or cannot afford transportation. Transportation should never be a barrier to participate in democracy.”
"We are proud to support our community's right to vote by offering free fares all day on November 5th," said Dwight Ferrell, General Manager at SMART. "This initiative aligns with the Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson's efforts to increase voter access and participation across Michigan. At SMART, we believe in facilitating civic engagement and ensuring that transportation is never a barrier to casting a vote."
Ride-sharing company Lyft is offering a 50% off one ride to or from the polls on Election Day with the discount code VOTE24. In addition, the Detroit Bus Company (DBC) will be utilizing its own busses, as well as volunteers and their respective personal vehicles, to offer residents in Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck free rides to the polls. To request a ride with DBC, visit this website. For a complete list of rides to the polls, visit MichiganVoting.org.
“Voting is one of the most essential acts we can do as citizens,” said DBC Owner Andy Didorosi. “We will have also done our duty as a local transportation organization if we can help even a handful of Detroiters of any creed make the journey on voting day who otherwise wouldn’t be able to do so. That’s a win in my book.”
Paid transportation to the polls is made possible due to the passage of voting rights bill HB 4568, which lifted the ban on hiring transportation for rides to the polls. Secretary Benson issued a statement following the Senate’s passage of the measure in October 2023.
Eligible residents who still need to register to vote in the General Election must now do so in person. Under Michigan law, online and mail registration is not permitted within 14 days of an election. Those registering in person may request, complete, and submit an absentee ballot in the same visit to their clerk’s office.
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