In an attempt to get more voters to the polls, ride-share companies Uber and Lyft as well as Union Cab will offer free or discounted rides to voters on election day Tuesday.
Lyft announced they would offer 50 percent off for riders across the country with a promo code as well as free rides for underserved communities in partnership with various nonprofits like Voto Latino, Urban League and the League of Women Voters.
Uber will offer $10 off a single ride to voting locations through their app if passengers enter a promo code.
The Urban League of Greater Madison announced a partnership with the NAACP, African American Council of Churches, Common Cause and Union Cab to help provide voters with rides to and from their voting locations. Voters who need transportation can call the Urban League to request a ride or show up to one of five locations where volunteers will be driving people to and from voting locations. Volunteers will also be driving through neighborhoods in marked cars to pick up any people who need a ride.
The promotion is being offered in an attempt to get voters — especially young ones and minorities — who would not be able to make it otherwise due to lack of transportation to the polls.
A study by the Center for Information and Research for Civic Learning and Engagement found lack of transportation to be the third most common reason for not voting cited by people between the ages of 18-29 who did not have college experience. About 6 million registered young people did not vote in the 2016 election, with most citing disinterest for the candidates and issues as the reason for not participating.
