Ride-hailing service Lyft announced a major new voting initiative to help get Americans out to the polls on November 5. The company will offer discounted rides, bikeshare and scooters on Election Day, making transportation to the polls more accessible to voters.
This year, there are 100,000 fewer polling places available than during the 202 election. This drop means it will be more difficult for many voters to get to the polls. To help ensure that transportation is not an issue on November 5, Lyft is offering 50 percent (up to $10) off rides nationwide. Just use code VOTE24 when you schedule your car, bike or scooter. The code will be valid from 5am to 10pm on Election Day in all time zones.
But Lyft’s voting initiative doesn’t stop there. The company is also partnering with Love Island Season 6 couple Serena Page and Kordell Beckham and RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15’s Sasha Colby to highlight the importance of voting and to encourage everyone to get out to the polls.
According to Lyft, they’ve already helped more than three million people vote this year, and they pledge to increase rides to the polls by 25 percent. The overall goal is to increase voter turnout by 500,000 new voters by 2028.
Lyft is all in on this initiative and has released exclusive data that demonstrates the barriers people face when voting. The data shows that ride distances to polling centers are longest in Texas, Georgia and Mississippi, with each ranging between 5.3 miles and 5.8 miles. Lyft hopes that its rideshare initiative will make it easier to get to the polls in areas where distance makes it difficult to vote.
In addition to the discount, the Lyft app will feature special themed elements on Election Day, including a home screen takeover and election-themed icons and messaging. The app will light up with red, white and blue confetti when you enter the special code to celebrate your participation in democracy.