In an effort to boost voter participation and ease access to polling stations, the Los Angeles Metro will be offering free rides on Election Day, November 5. Throughout the network, passengers will be able to take advantage of complimentary transit from midnight until 11:59 p.m., as reported by CBS Los Angeles. Riders can look forward to free services across the board, including on Metro buses, trains, Metro Bike Share, and Metro Micro.
A promotional campaign is also in full swing, with Metro Micro offering rides without cost in select areas utilizing the code Vote24, aiming to directly facilitate voters to quickly reach voting centers or drop off their ballots. Notably, these free rides are part of a larger trend across LA County, with other cities like Culver City, Santa Monica, and Long Beach also providing cost-free public transportation on this vital day, according to Fox LA.
In conjunction with these services, Metro has situated ballot drop boxes adjacent to nine stations: Union Station, El Monte Bus Transit Center, Harbor Gateway Transit Center, Harbor Freeway C Line, Hollywood/Western B Line, North Hollywood B Line, Norwalk C Line, Westlake/MacArthur Park B & D Lines, and Wilshire/Vermont B & D Lines. These boxes are located in areas not requiring fare payment, under surveillance, and are intentionally designed to prevent tampering. This measure, as NBC Los Angeles notes, greatly amplifies the convenience for voters using mail-in ballots.
Moreover, Metro's bike-share program is encouraging active transportation through an offer of free 30-minute rides with the promo code 110524. A credit or debit card will be necessary, yet the code is redeemable multiple times throughout Election Day, allowing for flexibility and repeated use, as seen in a statement obtained by Fox LA. To aid in-person voters, a voting center will also be open at Metro headquarters in Union Station from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
"Metro encourages all eligible county residents to exercise their constitutional right to vote," read a news release from the agency. With ample opportunities for free transit, Los Angeles Metro is making a concerted effort to remove barriers that might dissuade residents from making their voices heard at the polls.
