As a community organizer and volunteer driver in Fairbanks, Alaska, Alyssa Quintyne spends election season navigating rugged roads, sometimes driving up to 2.5 hours roundtrip, and occasionally getting stuck in deep potholes — all to make sure people in her community can participate in the democratic process.
When we think about obstacles to voting, transportation isn’t usually the first issue that comes to mind. Yet simply getting to the polls remains one of the biggest challenges for many — particularly young people, seniors, those with disabilities, and low-income voters.
Quintyne has seen some of these barriers firsthand. “I’m delivering a ballot today to a teacher who just had back surgery and can’t get out of bed,” she says. “You’re telling me they don’t deserve to vote?”
According to a 2021 study, owning a car increases a person’s likelihood of voting by at least a third. Lack of car access is especially problematic in rural areas with limited access to public transportation. Even in urban settings where public transit may be available, long wait times, overcrowded buses or trains, and inconvenient schedules can still pose real barriers.
Income is another factor. Using survey data collected as part of Lyft’s 2024 Economic Impact Report, the rideshare company estimates that individuals with incomes under $50,000 are 50% more likely to use rideshare services for voting than those with higher incomes. For those with disabilities, that number jumps to 150%.
Young voters also face transportation-related challenges. According to the 2016 Performance of American Elections survey, 29% of young Americans reported that they did not vote in previous elections because they lacked transportation options. College students and young professionals, who may have recently moved from home and live/work in cities/states where they’re not registered to vote, may also struggle to access reliable transit options on Election Day, especially if they don’t own a car.
CIRCLE’s communications team lead, Alberto Medina, says that despite the expansion of mail-in voting, in-person voting is still the preferred option for many, and “there’s still a lot of work to do to ensure every young person can participate in elections.”
Good samaritans like Quintyne aren’t alone in trying to address these obstacles. Several public transit systems offered free or reduced-fare rides on Election Day in 2020 (and more will in 2024). Nonpartisan organizations like When We All Vote — focused on voter education and registration — and the NAACP are also working to improve voter access. The NAACP, as well as the disability services group Easterseals and others, have partnered with Lyft to coordinate free and discounted rides to polling places as part of the company’s Voting Access program.
The efforts of volunteers, rideshare programs, public transportation initiatives, nonprofits, and nonpartisan organizations are all helping to bridge the gap. Ultimately, overcoming these transportation challenges is critical to ensuring that every eligible voter can participate in the democratic process.
