RTA, Uber, Lyft to offer free rides to the polls on Election Day

FILE - In this Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, file photo, a driver displaying Lyft and Uber stickers on his front windshield drops off a customer in downtown Los Angeles. California regulators on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, adopted new safety rules for ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft that will not require their drivers be fingerprinted as part of background checks, rejecting a push by the taxi industry. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

FILE - In this Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, file photo, a driver displaying Lyft and Uber stickers on his front windshield drops off a customer in downtown Los Angeles. California regulators on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, adopted new safety rules for ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft that will not require their drivers be fingerprinted as part of background checks, rejecting a push by the taxi industry. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

Ride hailing apps Uber and Lyft are offering free rides today on Election Day as part of a larger effort to "drive the vote."

Uber is working with the organizations #VoteTogether and Democracy Works to provide free rides to the polls, according to the company.

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Lyft is working with groups such as Voto Latino to help get underserved communities to their polling stations, Fortune reports. Lyft will also be offering 50 percent off its rides on Election Day to encourage people to go out and vote.

Today on Nov. 6, a special Election Day button will also show up in the Uber app. Riders can use the button to find their polling place and book a ride “with just a few taps,” according to Uber.

Uber is also offering political campaigns and organizations the chance to purchase promo codes they can give to their workers or voters on Election Day.

In the run-up to the midterm elections, both Uber and Lyft have been sharing information on how to register to vote with both their drivers and riders, according to each service.

Uber and Lyft are not the only transportation services offering free rides today to the polls. The Greater Dayton RTA will also be providing free rides as well to ensure access for all who choose to vote, according to a release.

For a list of all RTA routes that are within a half mile or less walk to local polling stations, click here to visit the RTA's website.

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