Lyft To Offer Discounted And Free Rides To Polls On Election Day

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – The ride-hailing service Lyft is offering discounted and free rides to voters in San Diego County and across the country on Election Day.

For prospective voters, especially people between ages 18 and 29, lack of transportation is one of the biggest detriments to voting, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Roughly 19 percent of young voters with college credits and 35 percent of young voters without any college experience failed to vote in 2016 because they did not have a way to get to the polls.

Citing that data, Lyft is offering 50 percent off rides to the polls throughout the county on Election Day. Lyft is also offering free rides in certain zip codes because of donations from nonprofits like Voto Latino, the National Federation of the Blind, and San Diego-based Faith in Action, formerly known as PICO National Network.

"At Lyft, we're working to improve lives by connecting people and their communities through the world's best transportation. This Election Day, we want to help people in San Diego County exercise their right to vote," Lyft San Diego Market Manager Hao Meng said in a statement. "Every voice is important, and we're excited to help make them heard in this year's elections."

Residents can visit buzzfeed.com/pollup2018/welcome-to-pollup2018 to receive a promo code as well as check to see if they are eligible to have their fare waived.

City News Service contributed to this report. Image via Lyft