Need help getting to the polls on Election Day? Here's how to get a free or discounted ride

If you're planning to cast a ballot on Election Day and need a ride to your local polling site, you may be in luck.

Numerous transit agencies and companies across Michigan are offering free or discounted rates to drive voters to the polls on Nov. 5 or to early voting sites this week.

Here's what to know on how to access free or discounted transportation on Election Day.

Why is the transportation access important?

Michigan voters have a variety of options to help them get to the polls this election, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in a news release.

"It's important that transportation not stand in the way of any eligible Michigan citizen and their access to the ballot box," Benson said in a news release. "I'm glad lawmakers worked to lift the ban on providing rides to voting locations and grateful to the organizations who have stepped up to provide transportation for citizens who need it to vote.

"These services will be essential for many, especially older citizens and voters with disabilities, to ensure every eligible voter can make their voice heard in this election," she said.

Who can I call for a free ride to the polls?

The full list of transportation resources for voters is available online, but here are some entities offering travel options.

• Bay Area Transit Authority in Grand Traverse County, Leelanau County, Traverse City — BATA will offer free rides on Election Day on its fixed-route Loop buses. Call BATA Customer Service at 231-941-2324, go to the BATA website, batabustracker.com, Google maps or the Transit app.
• Capital Area Transportation Authority, EATRAN, and Clinton Transit in the Lansing area — Free rides are available now through Election Day, just inform your driver you're heading to vote or register to vote. Go to the CATA website for more information.
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc Detroit Alumnae Chapter in Detroit, Grosse Pointes, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Highland Park — Wheelchair-accessible rides will be available to and from polling sites on Election Day. Call 888-328-4283 or email contact@oakland-service.com to request a ride.
• Detroit Bus Company in Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park — Free rides will be available after 9 a.m. on Election Day. Call 313-444-2871 or fill out an online form to request a ride.
• Detroit Downriver APRI in Allen Park, Brownstown, Detroit, Ecorse, Inkster, Lincoln Park, Oak Park, River Rouge, Riverview, Southfield, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton — Free rides are available now through Election Day. Request a ride at least one day in advance through an online form.
• Dial-A-Ride in Benton Harbor, St. Joseph — Free rides are available for early voting now through Sunday, Nov. 3 and on Election Day. Call, preferably 24 hours ahead, 269-927-4461 to arrange a ride.
• Flint churches — Free rides are available now through Election Day. Call 810-955-4495 or 810-282-3067 to request a ride.
• Grand Rapids APRI in Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming — Free rides are available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Call 616-558-5666 to request a ride.
• I-Ride in Isabella County — Free rides are available now through Sunday, Nov. 3 to early voting sites and to polling sites on Election Day. Call, preferably 24 hours ahead, 989-772-9441 to request a ride.
• SMART — SMART buses will offer free rides all day on Election Day to accommodate voters.

Who is offering discounted rides to the polls?

Ride-share companies Lyft and Uber will offer discounted rides to the polls on Election Day.

How can you access discounted rides to the polls?

Lyft will offer 50% off one ride to or from a polling site on Election Day, using the discount code VOTE24 when booking a ride online. The code applies to a rideshare, bikeshare or scooter ride and is valid from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. in each time zone. Preload the code on or before Election Day when booking your Lyft ride.

Uber will offer 50% off one trip to a polling site on Election Day, clicking Go Vote when booking a ride online to activate the promo code. Check before you book, as the discount is not available in all states. The one-time use offer is valid from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time.

Uber will also offer 25% off orders of $25 or more on the evening of Election Day. The offer is valid from 6 p.m. local time on Nov. 5 to 7 a.m. local time on Nov. 6.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.