Public transportation is bad in many parts of the US, and many low-income working voters can’t get ANY time off to go vote. Others with major responsibilities for little ones & elders at home cannot leave for hours to try to vote. Etc.
Some commercial ride services are offering help, but some of it is only TO the polls not also back again, and some is discounted rather than free. Some organizations can help. Learn & prepare carefully IN ADVANCE. Links & updated basic info below the blockquote.
There’s probably more information out around — keep an eye out for it.
DK’s Chris Reeves reported in March: Reaching out to voters with disabilities had profound impact in Conor Lamb's victory...
When a race is won by such slim margins, consultants, activists, specific causes and issues will be brought up as the “key factor” in what put someone over the top …
One item that won’t get enough praise, though, will be the efforts by the Pennsylvania Democratic State Party [and] local organizations ... to mobilize and turnout voters to the polls, especially voters with disabilities — because in the end, more important than any other item, is taking voters who believe in your cause and changing them from believers sitting at home, to believers who vote.
Even if you can’t volunteer to drive strangers to the polls, see if you have relatives, neighbors or friends who need a ride you might give, or whom you could share the below information, listed in no particular order.
At that link click on I NEED A RIDE or I CAN OFFER A RIDE.
All details are there.
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VoteRiders is focused on making sure everyone who needs a voter ID has it. If you, your family, friends, colleagues or neighbors need info or assistance for that, call toll-free Voter ID Helpline: 844-338-8743 or contact VoteRiders. More actions you can take to help in the voter ID effort. Donations are 100% tax deductible.
VoteRiders previously posted an UBER ride-help ANNOUNCEMENT: here’s Oct 4 update from https://www.UBER.com/newsroom/drivethevote/ That link has smartfone illustrations, here’s edited text — BE PREPARED IN ADVANCE:
- Get to the Polls Button: On Tuesday, November 6, anyone in the U.S. will be able to quickly find their polling place and book a ride to go vote—with just a few taps in the Uber app. (Make sure you’re using the latest version of the app.)
- Free Rides to the Polls: ...partnering with #VoteTogether and Democracy Works ... *For additional details, see HERE.
- Helping Riders and Drivers Register to Vote: Uber has partnered with When We All Vote to provide customers easy-to-use voter registration resources through the Uber app.
Any campaign or organization can use Uber Events offering to purchase and distribute promo codes for rides to the polls on Election Day. [how to] arrange & pay for rides o[for] others ... at uber.com/business.
* Promo codes distributed in connection with #VoteTogether for early voting will be distributed exclusively by #VoteTogether.
The Uber promotional offer available to riders (as described here) is for up to $10 off a single ride to your polling place on November 6, 2018 on the most affordable option in your city (Express POOL, POOL, or UberX, in that order).
This ... offer is NOT available ... in Michigan, Puerto Rico, or the other US territories.
Uber reserves the right to limit supply or assess charges in the event that Uber suspects there has been abuse of the promotional offer or due to unanticipated demand.
Promotion cannot be combined with other offers or discounts, is non-transferable, and subject to change. Any promo codes are offered in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. This offer is not intended to induce, nor is it conditioned on, the act of voting, refraining from voting or voting for or against any particular candidate, political party or measure. Promo will be available for trips to the polls via the UberWAV option, where available.
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Read fuller detail at the links!
On November 6th, Lime will offer free rides to the polls to help Americans make their voices heard...
In addition to providing access to our full fleet of shared bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters, we’re partnering with Vote.org and I am a voter. to share important information and encourage our riders to sign up for Election Day reminders and updates that will equip them with all of the resources they need to get out and vote.
HOW IT WORKS:
- On November 6th, enter code LIME2VOTE18 to unlock any of our shared bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters for a free ride to and from your polling location (up to 30-minutes) in more than 100 cities across the US
- Riders will also be directed to reminders.vote.org to sign-up for election reminders … Personalized access to info on registration deadlines, absentee ballot request deadlines and polling place locations for early voting and Election Day voting
- Lime riders will have access to I am a voter.’s state of the art text messaging platform, allowing them to receive up-to-the-minute election information, check their registration status, request an absentee ballot, find their polling place, and volunteer to get out the vote by texting VOTER to 26797
- On November 6th, all of our U.S. riders will receive an email reminder with Lime’s free ride code and supplemental details from Vote.org and I am a voter.
Read fuller detail at the links!
Free rides to and from the polls on election day...
How it Works — Voters send a text or register online to request a ride, and Drive the Vote connects them with a volunteer driver, who picks them up and takes them to their polling place…
Don't want to drive? — Many states allow early voting and/or absentee ballots. You may not need a ride at all :-) ….
For 2018,
we're working with local partners in three congressional districts to provide rides to the polls. To schedule a ride, call the numbers below, or
if you're not in one of these areas call your local Democratic party office.
...If you'd like to volunteer in one of our three areas, [go to https://www.drive.vote/ and] click the button [for your area]
If you're not near one of our supported areas, check out TheLastWeekend.org [organized by SwingLeft] for volunteer opportunities in your area.
Read fuller detail at the links!
Read fuller detail at the links!
August 23, 2018
The Ride to Vote: Use Lyft to Exercise Your Rights
….This Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 6), we want to help people across America exercise their right to vote. It is estimated that over 15 million people were registered but didn’t vote in 2016 because of transportation issues.1 ...
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Across the country, we’ll give away 50% off promo codes with our partners that encourage voter turnout. We’re thrilled to be working with Vote.org, Nonprofit Vote, TurboVote and more to help distribute codes to those who need them. We’ll also have a product integration to help passengers find their polling location. Access the codes here.
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For underserved communities, we’ll provide rides free of cost through nonpartisan, nonprofit partners, including Voto Latino, local Urban League affiliates, the National Federation of the Blind, Faith in Action, League of Women Voters, and the Student Vets of America…..
...We’re partnering with When We All Vote and National Voter Registration Day to ensure Lyft’s passengers, drivers, and broader community are prepared for Election Day …
- Remind Lyft passengers about voter registration deadlines...
- Give drivers voter registration handouts and key voter information at Hub locations….
- Encourage our community to make a plan in advance for Election Day, which has a proven impact on voter turnout rates3
Lyft promo codes and free rides are offered in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, subject to Lyft’s terms and conditions, and is not intended to induce, nor is it conditioned on, the act of voting or voting for or against any particular candidate or measure.
Read fuller detail at the links!
GIVING RIDES TO THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY
For nonprofits of many varieties, providing rides to polling places will be a must on Election Day. For some groups, providing rides will be their only activity. Bringing someone directly to the polls is the best way to ensure that they vote.
Here are some tips for creating an effective Rides-to-the-Polls program:
▮ Know the rules regarding:
- Your state’s Voter ID requirements (if any)
- Provisional voting in your state
- Toll free help lines for voters like 1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA
- Same day registration (if available in your state)
▮ Create a plan
- How many people can you involve? How many staff? How many volunteers?
- here ….
Read fuller detail at the links!
This site has an interactive map for finding polling place by filling in search-box with voter address. You get data for ■ early voting location ■ election day voting location ■ possibly more, depending on location of you or the person[s] you’re helping get to vote.
Read fuller detail at the link!
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usa.gov/election-day has useful info that drivers & helpers for disabled or frail relatives or friends will want to know in advance...
such as ada.gov/ada_voting/[The Americans with Disabilities Act and Other Federal Laws Protecting the Rights of Voters with Disabilities] …. maybe worth inquiring at your elections office to confirm these helps & assistances will be in place — first thing election morning maybe go see for yourself:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),* the Help America Vote Act (HAVA),** and other federal laws require that all Americans —including seniors and people with disabilities—have the same opportunity to participate in the voting process.
As a voter with a disability, you have the right to:
- Vote privately and independently
- Have an accessible polling place with voting machines for voters with disabilities
Specific requirements for physical accessibility of polling places include:
- Wheelchair-accessible voting booths
- Entrances and doorways that are at least 32 inches wide
- Handrails on all stairs
- Voting equipment that is accessible to voters who are blind or visually impaired
If you have a disability, you may either:
- Seek assistance from workers at the polling place who have been trained to use the accessible voting machine, or
- Bring someone to help you vote.
- You can also ask your local election officials*** to tell you about other options available to you.
- Some states offer “curbside voting,” in which a poll worker brings all voting materials to your car.
- Some locations set up mobile polling places at long-term care facilities.
- Local organizations often support people with disabilities by providing transportation to the polls and identifying the accessibility of polling places…..
* wikipedia’s ADA article. ** wikipedia’s HAVA article
*** usa.gov’s Find My State or Local Election Office Website
Read fuller detail at the links!
As to ABSENTEE BALLOTING:
If you’re going to help housebound people get their ballots in, contact your local elections department to make sure you know and can comply with the rules for delivering those ballots. (Got postage stamps you can share?)
AND
At [Federal Voting Assistance Program].gov/info/about-absentee-voting is noted:
Elections are managed individually by the 50 States, U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and the District of Columbia.
This means there are 55 different sets of rules for absentee voting…
To successfully vote absentee...:
- Allow plenty of time to request, receive, and return the ballot.
- Notify the election office each time your mailing address changes.
- Become familiar with your State's absentee voting deadlines and procedures to make sure the ballot is properly executed and will be counted.
For U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. —just as for active-duty Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine members, eligible spouses or dependents, and in some states active duty in the National Guard, it looks like you can
- Complete a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) early if unsure of the time required to return the ballot to meet the State's deadline.
Instructions including state specifics, and print-outable/photocopyable FWAB (a.k.a. “Official Backup Ballot”) are at this fvap.gov pdf plus an email addy for questions. You can’t fill it out online, ‘tho’ — it seems to require handwriting.
Read fuller detail at the links!
has “actionable volunteer opportunities” that might include giving rides to the polls, or other voter transportation work.
Swing Left’s goal is to flip the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections and put a check on the Trump and GOP agenda.
We will achieve this by organizing and supporting volunteers to have an impact Swing Districts across the country.
You can sign up to volunteer in your nearest Swing District by going to swingleft.org and entering your zip code. You will be directed to your nearest Swing District. Enter your email address and click “Get Involved” to begin receiving actionable opportunities in your inbox to volunteer and support Democratic candidates.
Read fuller detail at the link!
Your local faith-based community, service organizations, & fellowship grps
may also have good non-partisan track records for helping get tranport-limited voters their rightful voice in elections, and/or for helping absentee balloters make sure to have their rightful impact.
GOT STAMPS TO SHARE WITH ABSENTEE BALLOTERS ON YOUR STREET OR IN YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Sometimes it’s as easy as that.
READERS DO PLEASE ADD COMMENTS about more CARPOOL/ RIDE-SHARE/GIVE-a-LIFT LINKS and anything related to the above information that you KNOW is reliable for helping voters to vote.
Please see the terrific daily diaries by the indefatigable YOSEF52 covering and linking a wealth of invaluable information for Dems who care about the November 6 election.
And POSTCARD THE VOTE! Organizations and How-to To Help g.o.t.v