Lyft News

Ride to Vote: Helping More People Get to the Polls on Election Day

Sep 15, 2020

This year, no matter how you choose to cast your vote, access to transportation should not be a barrier. But in the last presidential election, it’s estimated that more than 15 million eligible voters didn’t go to the polls in large part because they lacked a way to get there. COVID-19 has added even more complexities to exercising the right to vote — whether you vote by mail, drop your ballot at a collection site, or vote in person. Polling sites are consolidating and fewer people are volunteering to be poll workers due to health safety concerns.

We know not everyone has access to affordable transportation. So this Election season, we’re expanding the “Ride to Vote” work we began in 2018 to offer even more free and discounted rides to the polls. On Election Day, we are offering 50% off one ride up to $10 to any polling location or dropbox using the code 2020VOTE*. For the first time, this offer also includes our network of bikes and scooters in select cities. We’re working with When We All Vote, Vote.org, and other partners to provide our community with the tools they need to register to vote.

Through our LyftUp program, we are also partnering with a number of nonprofit organizations to distribute free and discounted rides to those in communities where access to reliable, affordable transportation is limited. We’re proud to welcome new partners like More Than A Vote, who’s giving ride access to arena polling locations in Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Orlando, and Philadelphia, and to expand our work with existing LyftUp Access Alliance partners like Black Women’s Roundtable, who will help provide rides to get their community to the polls. These organizations join our growing list of Voting Access partners, which includes the National Federation of the Blind, Student Veterans of America, and more, allowing us to expand ride access to even more people this election season. 

We are also partnering with Sony Music Group and their artists and songwriters to help mobilize voters as part of their Your Voice, Your Power, Your Vote initiative, which offers resources about registering to vote and getting to designated polling locations in Houston and Miami, as well as to More Than A Vote arena polling locations.

"Lyft is stepping up to complement the work that More Than A Vote has done to convert sports arenas into safe in-person voting locations in communities that are suffering the most during this pandemic,” said Michael Tyler, EVP of Public Affairs for More Than A Vote. “By providing access to free and discounted rides to arena voting sites in Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Orlando, and Philadelphia, Lyft is making it easier for voters in key population centers to exercise their right to vote this fall." 

As in years past, our partners will distribute ride credit directly to people in their networks whom they identify as most in need of transportation.

LyftUp is our comprehensive effort to expand transportation access to those who need it most. In addition to getting people to the polls, LyftUp programs enable disconnected communities to gain access to healthy food, get to job interviews, connect with critical resources in the aftermath of natural disasters, and more.


*2020VOTE Promo code is valid on November 3, 2020 between the hours of 4am - 11pm local time for 50% off up to a maximum of $10 one (1) Lyft car ride, Lyft scooter ride, or Lyft-operated bikeshare ride to a polling location anywhere in the U.S. with Lyft service, including registered dropbox locations if you are in an exclusively vote-by-mail state. Limited quantity available. Limit one per user. Lyft promo codes and discounts are offered in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and cannot be combined with other ride credit or offers. Offer of promo code is not intended to induce, nor is it conditioned on, the act of voting, or voting for or against any particular person or measure. Subject to Lyft's Terms of Service.

Our Voting Access partners have already been chosen and our partner list is closed. We are not accepting solicitations for new partners.