Free Transit Rides on Election Day to Help Voters Get to the Polls
09/29/20
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) announced today that the agencies will host the region’s third “Free Ride Day” on Tuesday, November 3. Fixed-route bus and rail services will be free for everyone to use throughout San Diego County, ensuring residents are able to reach their polling place and exercise their right to vote.
“Free Ride Day this year has a different purpose than in past
years,” said Nathan Fletcher, MTS Board Chair and San Diego County
Supervisor. “We are holding it on one of the most important days for
our country – Election Day. We want San Diego residents to have every
opportunity to participate in our democracy. Free transit rides all
day long will help do just that.”
NCTD Board Chair and Encinitas Councilmember Tony Kranz said, “North County Transit District is a proud supporter of Free Ride Day because it’s critical to our agency’s effort to promote transit ridership and improve air quality. However, NCTD is honored this year to provide transportation at no cost to our residents on Election Day. These rides will help bridge the gap between where people live and where they can cast their vote on November 3.”
“Free Ride Day coinciding with Election Day elevates access for all of our San Diego voters to get to their assigned polling place,” said Michael Vu, Registrar of Voters. “We encourage voters to do their homework if they plan to vote at their polling place. Double-check the location because it may have changed, wear a face covering and mark your sample ballot in advance to quickly fill in the official ballot at the poll.” For more information, visit sdvote.com.
Free rides will be honored on all MTS and NCTD fixed-routes services
including buses, the Trolley, SPRINTER, and COASTER. MTS and NCTD
services will operate on a normal weekday schedule. Passengers will
not need a Compass Card or valid fare for either system, but face
coverings will continue to be required on board all MTS and NCTD
vehicles and at transit facilities. Participants are encouraged to
RSVP through the MTS Facebook page
event, or online at the Free Ride Day
webpage to receive event reminders about Free Ride Day, tips for
taking transit, and more. Services not included during the Free Ride
Day promotion are Amtrak Rail 2 Rail, MTS Access, and NCTD LIFT
paratransit.
A big reason for hosting Free Ride Day on Election Day is that
transit can help bridge the gap between where a voter lives and where
they need to vote. The San Diego County Registrar of Voters will have
fewer polling places
than in prior elections, so many voters will be required to drop
off or cast their ballot at a different location than they did for the
primary election in March. There will be 235 “Super Poll” locations,
which is down from approximately 1,600 polling locations during the
primary. To help with social distancing and limiting crowds, the Super
Poll locations will be open for four days leading up to Election
Day.
Both MTS and NCTD have implemented new cleaning and sanitizing
protocols and practices on vehicles and at transit stations. Vehicles
are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected daily with CDC-approved
solutions for COVID-19. Disinfectant is applied to all hard surfaces
and common areas that are routinely touched or used such as seats,
seat backs, fare boxes, driver controls, all handrails, walls, and
windows.
For more details about cleaning protocols for MTS, visit the Clean Ride webpage.
For more details about NCTD cleaning protocols, visit the NCTD Commitments
webpage.