Election Day is here, leaving some of us with one big question: how am I going to get to the polls today? Start by looking up your polling location, then make a plan on how to get there. Fortunately, there are plenty of discounted transportation methods to help you get there. And if you're concerned about how much time it will take, check out the voter leave law in your state. Many states will let you take off up to 2 hours off to vote and a few states, like Texas and Arizona, have no time limits.
Take a rideshare
Both Uber and Lyft are offering discounted rides to the polls today — though you're on your own for getting back from the polls. Still, getting a one-way deal is better than no deal.
Uber: $10 off a ride with the promo code VOTE2018. Book a ride in the app and the code under Payment > Add Promo Code.
Lyft: 50% off (up to $5). Enter your zip code on this website to get your Lyft promo code. Then book a ride in the app and enter it in the Promos tab.
Take a car-share
Instead of ride sharing, what about car sharing? These services offer, essentially, brief car rentals (and you never have to visit a rental counter). Just use the app to find an available car nearby to reserve — then drive it wherever you want for a per-mile or per-hour rate.
Zipcar: If you're a member, take a Zipcar to the polls between 6PM and 10PM today and get $20 off a future trip. If you aren't a member it's too late to sign up for membership now, but there's always next year.
Getaround: Even if you've never used Getaround before, you can sign up for an account, then use the promo code GETAROUND2VOTE to get a $10 ride discount on election day.
While these are limited to the areas they're available in, if they are options in your area, you'll be hard pressed to find a more convenient way to the polls.
Take a bike or scooter
While not every metro area offers bike or scooter sharing services, several are offering free or discounted rentals on Election Day. Lime — which offers bikes, ebikes and scooters in over 100 cities nationwide — will give you a free 30-minute ride to the polls. (And you can use it to go to the polls and come back from the polls, as long as you can do it within 20 minutes.) Use the Lime app to find and reserve a bike as normal, then enter the promo code LIME2VOTE18 for your free half hour.
A number of bike-share companies around the country are offering free day rental passes, which should give you plenty of time to get to and from the polls. In all cases, reserve your bike as normal and then enter the promo code:
Citi Bike in New York City, Bluebikes in Boston, Capital Bikeshare in Washington D.C. and Ford GoBike in the Bay Area: Use the promo code BIKETOVOTE to get a free day pass.
Divvy in Chicago: Use the promo code VOTE18 to get a free day pass
Biketown in Portland, OR: Use the promo code BIKE2Vote, which only gives you a free 30-minute pass
Take public transportation
A number of major and smaller cities, including Los Angeles, Houston, Columbia, SC, and Saginaw, MI, among others, are offering free bus service today to help you get around. In South Carolina, Check with your local public transportation system to see if rides are offered for free today.
Call your local party office
If you haven't had any luck with the other options on this list, try contacting your local party office. In many cases, they'll be able to arrange a ride to the polls for you.
[image credit: vote button via BigStockPhoto]
