Community Corner
Florida Voters Can Hop A Free Ride To The Polls On Election Day
Florida voters who lack transportation can score free and discounted rides from Lyft and Uber to and from the polls on Election Day.
By Issac Morgan
November 2, 2020
Florida voters who lack transportation can score free and discounted rides from Lyft and Uber to and from the polls on Election Day, thanks in part to a nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing voter turnout among young and low-income people and seniors.
Find out what's happening in Across Floridafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Plus1Vote is offering the free rides via Lyft as many Floridians suffer financial burdens associated with COVID-19, including lost wages and rent and mortgage arrears.
“With so many out of work as a result of the pandemic, we need to do all that we can to get folks with limited resources to the polls in order to vote for the representation they deserve,” Saad Amer, the organization’s co-founder, said in a written statement.
Find out what's happening in Across Floridafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Plus1Vote will fund Lyft rides, up to $10 each way, to polling locations in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina on Tuesday, the organization said. To get a free ride, Florida voters must enter the promotional code “Plus1VoteFL” in the car ride app.
“Low-income voters as well as young adults and seniors are frequently prevented from voting because they lack access to or cannot afford transportation,” Plus1Vote said on its website.
“In fact, 29 percent of young people who do not vote cite a lack of transportation as a reason.”
Uber is offering discounted rides across the country on Election Day.
According to a press release in late October, the company is offering “50 percent off roundtrip rides to and from the polls” and has partnered with the Pizza to the Polls organization to deliver free food to polling sites with long lines.
“Uber’s unique Get Out The Vote initiative is helping people register to vote, offering discounted rides to and from the polls, and feeding people while in line to vote at their polling place,” Danielle Burr, Uber’s head of federal affairs, said in a written statement.
“We are proud to utilize the power of our platform to help American citizens exercise their right to vote this Election Day.”
This story was originally published by the Florida Phoenix. For more stories from the Florida Phoenix, visit FloridaPhoenix.com.
