With the sole polling station in Dodge City, Kansas recently moved out of city limits, nearly 27,000 residents will now have to figure out a way to the polls in a city with low voter turnout. But corporate sponsors have stepped in to help voters get to the poll.
Voto Latino, a Latino activist group and Lyft partnered up to help voters in Dodge City, a predominately Hispanic city, get to the new polling place. With many voters claiming transportation issues as a reason not to vote especially in low income communities, the partnership is helping to get people to the polls.
#DodgeCity #Kansas, is a Latinx -majority city that has had it’s ONLY polling location moved outside of city limits w/out access by public transportation.
So we’re partnering w @lyft to provide rides to the polls! Donate here👇🏽to help! https://t.co/oDdGo4ZBE2 pic.twitter.com/kb2rGi2Ot0
— Voto Latino (@votolatino) October 21, 2018
While Hispanic voters have historically low voter turnout, the move by state officials to change the single polling place from the civic center – where it was for the past 16 years – to outside city limits without access by public transportation ahead of a heated governor’s race could have major implications, experts say. Therefore, Steve Madden and Johnnie Walker are also sponsoring rides, while additional funds are being raised by Act Blue, Voto Latino said and Fortune reported.
Lyft will not only offer free rides to voters in Dodge City, the popular ride share service will provide both discounted and free rides on Nov. 6 to voters across the country in an attempt to encourage more Americans to get out and vote. According to Fortune, organizations like Vote.org and TurboVote will help distribute a nationwide 50% off code that can be used within the Lyft app.”
“It’s absolutely essential that we will be nonpartisan in doing this,” Mike Masserman, Lyft’s head of social impact, said. “We want to make sure everyone’s voice is heard in this election.”
With Lyft providing service to all 50 states, Masserman said 95 percent of the U.S. population will have access to the promotions so they can #GetOutTheVote.
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