At forthcoming U.S. election in November 2024 voters will choose the next president and vice president, along with members of Congress.

Public transit enables more people to get to polling places and exercise their civic right to vote. Low-income voters are much more likely to report transportation problems on voting day, as they may not have access to a car and ride-hailing services are too expensive. For many people, this means they simply cannot vote in person. Therefore, there is a reliance on public transit networks to get to polling places.

Mobility apps support election day trip planning

One barrier to voting is that people need help finding their polling station. Mobility apps like Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)’s GoPass®, powered by Kuba, can solve this. This year, the app to show polling places on the transit map to help riders plan their journeys.

For many low-income voters, the time it takes to get to a polling station is a direct barrier to voting. Taking a lot of time out of work is often not an option, especially for workers in the gig economy or who are paid by the hour. The quicker and easier it is to get to vote, the better.

Agencies may consider temporary service changes to make polling locations easier to reach. These include more frequent service, extended service hours on days that voting is open, or special service to polling locations if they are off an established route.

Agencies can communicate this through rider alerts, push notifications, and in-app messaging within the Kuba mobility app. The temporary routes or services can appear in the usual trip planner for the available period.

Tackling polling station accessibility: Free or discounted rides

Many communities do not have easy access to a voting station; public transit can help solve this. Free public transport positively impacts voter turnout.

In 2022, the Federal Transit Agency proposed transit programmes to increase access to voting, including free public transport and paratransit to voting stations.

In 2020, approximately 20% of the 50 largest transit agencies offered free rides on election day.

Our partner, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), offers free rides to polling stations in all elections, and this year’s presidential election is no different. Voters can ride at no charge on all DART buses, trains, the Dallas Streetcar, GoLink, Paratransit Services and the TRE. Read more here.

Promoting equitable access to polling stations through public transit

Public transit is crucial in ensuring equitable access to polling stations for all voters. Efforts to provide free or discounted rides to voting locations and use apps to facilitate journey planning are important steps toward promoting voter turnout and civic engagement.

Find out more about how Kuba’s mobility app can support your community, contact us today.