ORLANDO, Fla. — If you don't have a personal ride to the polls on Election Day, don't fret — you have options.
Some Central Florida bus systems are transporting people to the polls for free. Additionally, there are ride-share options.
Here's a county-by-county list of how you can get to your precinct on Election Day for free or at a reduced cost.
Plus1Vote
Plus1Vote is offering to cover the cost of two Lyft rides (up to $10 each way) to the polls in Florida. When booking a ride through the Lyft app, riders only have to enter the code "Plus1VoteFL" to take advantage of the offer.
SOULS TO THE POLLS
The Equal Ground Education Fund is running Souls to the Polls transportation events Saturday throughout Florida.
To find a list of events, head to the Souls to the Polls site.
HISPANIC FEDERATION, FARMWORKER ASSOCIATION
The Hispanic Federation (407) 270-0597 and the Farmworker Association of Florida (407) 886-5151 are providing rides to the polls for voters. Call those numbers for more information.
UBER AND LYFT DISCOUNTS
Both Uber and Lyft are offering discounts on Election Day for people who need rides to vote.
UBER has added an in-app poll-finding feature, and will offer 50% off roundtrip rides to and from the polls, up to $7 each trip. Full details are available on the Uber website.
Lyft is offering 50% off one ride to any polling location or dropbox, up to $10, using the code "2020VOTE." Full details are available on the Lyft website.
BREVARD COUNTY
Space Coast Area Transit is offering free fare on Election Day on all fixed bus routes. Residents in need of transportation can take the bus to the polls to cast their vote.
Maps and schedules can be viewed and downloaded at 321Transit.com. If you need more help, call the RideLine at 321-633-1878. On all SCAT rides, you must wear a mask and physically distance when possible. If you're sick, you're urged not to take public transportation.
"The challenges this year people are facing, especially with COVID, they may not have the transportation that they've had in years past," said Lance Parker, SCAT manager Of operations.
Parker says they decided to put on their annual mobility week the first week of November, with Election Day falling in it.
He says the third is a free ride day for all.
"We wanted to help as much as we could, as safe as we could," Parker said. "We aren't political in any way, we are just here to serve the public."
You won't find a more frequent SCAT bus rider than Melbourne's Camille Tate. It's a service she relies on all year long.
"I lost my vision in 2005, and I needed to make sure I could get around," said Tate. "I shop every week."
Tate will be one of the riders taking advantage of free rides to the polls on Election Day.
"I can call a day ahead of time and schedule them to come pick me up, or I can go hop on the fixed route bus stop right outside my apartment complex, and it has a stop where I can vote," she said.
For Tate, she says the free ride leaves no excuse not to exercise your right to cast a ballot.
"No there isn't, because you can get there on the bus, and there are many different ways to vote, and SCAT is very good at getting you where you need to go," Tate said.
LAKE COUNTY
LakeXpress buses will offer free fixed-route rides all day November 3 as part of Try Transit Day.
The free rides are part of Mobility Week, a program being offered by Lake County and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on October30 through November 6 to help bring awareness to safe, multimodal transportation choices.
VOLUSIA COUNTY
Votran and the Volusia County Elections Office are partnering to offer free public bus rides to the polls for registered voters on November 3. You just need to present a valid voter ID. The "Ride free with your voter ID" program also is available to residents registered with Votran’s Gold Service, which provides transportation for those with physical or mental disabilities or are infirm.
Gold Service users must schedule their trip a day in advance and advise the reservationist that the trip is for voting. For voter information and to locate your precinct, visit volusiaelections.org. For transportation information, call Votran customer service at 386-761-7700 in Daytona Beach, 386-424-6800 in New Smyrna Beach, or 386-943-7033 in West Volusia or visit votran.org.